Revisiting Laudato Si

Today’s discussion is a result of our preparation for yesterday’s session “Collective Action- “live the spirit and principles of Laudato Si,” a conversation with Bishop Gerardo Alminaza on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Laudato Program organized by the Philippine MIserior Partnership Inc. Central Visayas Cluster.

In our May 2324 PERSPECTIVE issue - “May 24 and Laudato Si” - we sharedChristopher Rice’ssummary of Pope Francis’184-page encyclical.

Today, allow us to sharethe following“Top Ten Takeaways from ‘Laudato Si’’ of Fr.James Martin, S.J. to better understand Pope Francis’ encyclical issued nine years ago.

One, the spiritual perspective is now part of the discussion on the environment.

Two, the poor are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Three, less is more.

Pope Francis “diagnoses a society of “extreme consumerism” in which people are unable to resist what the market places before them, the earth is despoiled, billions are left impoverished (No. 203).

Four, catholic social teaching now includes teaching on the environment.

Five, discussions about ecology can be grounded in the Bible and church tradition.

Six, everything is connected—including the economy.

All of us are linked to creation: “We are part of nature, included in it, and thus in constant interaction with it (No. 139). But our decisions, particularly about production and consumption, have an inevitable effect on the environment.”

Pope Francis links a “magical conception of the market,” which privileges profit over the impact on the poor, with the abuse of the environment (No. 190).

There is “inseparable bond between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society and interior peace” (No. 10).

Seven, scientific research on the environment is to be praised and used. Pope Francis’ encyclical “accepts the “best scientific research available today” and builds on it, rather than entering into a specialist’s debate (No. 15).

“Laudato Si” draws upon both church teaching and contemporary findings from other fields—particularly science, in this case—to help modern-day people reflect on these questions.”

Eight, widespread indifference and selfishness worsen environmental problems.

“Many of those who possess more resources seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms…(No. 26). Why, he asks, are so many of the wealthy turning away from the poor? Not only because “some view themselves as more worthy than others,” but because frequently decisions makers are “far removed from the poor,” physically, with no real contact to their brothers and sisters (No. 90, 49).

Selfishness also leads to the evaporation of the notion of the common good. One cannot care for the rest of nature if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings (No. 91).”

Nine, global dialogue and solidarity are needed.

Pope Francis’ encyclical “also embodies the Catholic principle of subsidiarity, which, in part, looks to local experience and local solutions.”

Ten, a change of heart is required.

Pope Francis’ encyclical intended to call “every person on the planet to a new way of looking at things, a ‘bold cultural revolution’ (No. 3, 114), that we face an urgent crisis, when, thanks to our actions, the earth has begun to look more and more like an immense pile of filth (No. 21).”

“Still, the document is hopeful, reminding us that because God is with us, we can strive both individually and corporately to change course.”

“We can awaken our hearts and move towards an ecological conversion in which we see the intimate connectionbetween God and all beings, and more readily listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor (No. 49).”

Pope Francis’ encyclical was shared in 2015. Since then, have we internalized “the spirit and principlesof Laudato Si?”

Have we united with others in collective action to care for our earth, our common home?

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