So what? It's Earth Day April 22

It's Earth Day!  So what?

Many Catholics are surprised to learn that Church leaders have taken a strong stance on climate change.  The Church teaches that climate change is caused by human activity and urgently needs to be addressed.  Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have set wonderful examples for us all by taking significant steps to reduce the Vatican's carbon footprint and to stress climate change's disproportionate impact on the poor.

While this aspect of Church teaching does not receive the as much press coverage as other Church teachings, it makes a lot of sense when you consider:

·         The Church teaches that human life is sacred.  Human life is impossible without access to clean water and air, healthy land upon which to raise food, and an environment free of harmful chemicals and toxins.

·         The Church teaches that we should give preference to the poor.  The poor around the world bear most of the pain of climate change.  They are most affected by natural disasters, lack of access to water, rising food prices, pollution, and other aspects of environmental degradation.

·         The Church urges us to be less materialistic.  The earth's suffering is caused in large part by humans who value "stuff" more than life; who want the convenience of a "throw away" culture; who see no need to pay a little more for products that are created in sustainable and ethical ways and do not travel thousands of miles to reach us.  Today, we take for granted things that our great-grandparents would have seen as incredible luxuries.

Now back to the question:  so what? 

If you value clean air and water, what action will you take to ensure that it's available for all?   If you do not want a coal-fired power plant or a landfill next door to your home, what action will you take to ensure that they are not built next to others' homes?   If you don't want your child suffering neurological damage from exposure to toxins and harmful chemicals, what action will you take to ensure that other people's children don't have to suffer those effects?

What will YOU do – today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter – to live your values?

To learn more about the Church's environmental teachings and how to reduce your carbon footprint, visit:   http://catholicclimatecovenant.org.   ~~~