Environmental Justice, Care for Creation and Catholic Climate Covenant

Environmental Justice calls Catholics to a deeper respect for God’s creation, and engages parishes in activities that deal with environmental problems, particularly as they affect the poor and vulnerable.

The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry supports this shared responsibility by offering programs and creating resources to assist parish communities in their efforts to be good stewards of God’s creation in all its forms.

Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, . . . the loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, . . . and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of ‘environmental refugees’? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources? All these are issues with a profound impact on the exercise of human rights, such as the right to life, food, health and development.

~ Pope Benedict XVI. “If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation,” January 2010

Resources for Parishes

The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry creates resource packets to assist parishes and social ministry teams in the implementation of the St. Francis Pledge and the Catholic Climate Covenant, the celebration of Earth Day and other seasonal events.

Explore our NEW resource packet – Feast of St. Francis 2012

As we approach October 4, 2012 – the Feast of St. Francis – it is an ideal time to give attention to our stewardship of God’s creation and, especially, to the growing numbers of environmental refugees.

In his World Day of Peace message in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said:

Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change...? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of ‘environmental refugees’, people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it... – in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement?

Our new resource packet for the Feast of St. Francis offers materials that parishes and individuals can use to learn more about environmental refugees and creative ways to respond to this growing challenge.

Other Environmental Justice Resource Packets

Get Involved!

The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry is available to help your parish, your school or your organization work toward Environmental Justice!

Staff of the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry and members of the Environmental Justice Team are available to speak (with DVD or PowerPoint presentations) on connections between respecting life, children’s environmental health problems, and stewardship of the environment in Connecticut, all through the lens of Catholic social teaching.

Invite us to come to your parish to share information and dialogue on these important issues!

Respect for Creation is of immense consequence… and its preservation has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to authentic and integral human development…. Yet, no less troubling are the threats arising from the neglect – if not downright misuse – of the earth and the natural goods that God has given us.  The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations.

~ Pope Benedict XVI, “If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation,” January 2010