OLOTA JPIC Plan of Action 2009-11 Appendix 5

The Integrity of Creation (The Environment)
The Bible speaks of the goodness and beauty of creation called to glorify God. We are called to celebrate life by caring for the gift of God's creation as good stewards. Respect for life, and above all for the dignity of the human person, is the ultimate guiding norm for any sound economic, industrial or scientific progress. A peaceful society cannot afford to neglect to respect life and the integrity to creation. The earth is ultimately a common heritage, the fruits of which are for the benefit of all. The fate of the natural world and human life are fully intertwined.
Ecological destruction harms human life, and human social injustice inevitably has ecological consequences. To enter into ever-deeper relationship with God entails striving to develop right relations with nature and with other human beings.But life on earth today is plagued with an unprecedented and accelerating ecological crisis.
The ecological crisis and how we respond to it is a moral issue. Education in ecological responsibility is urgent. Genuine conversion in ways of thought and behavior is essential. The earth can provide for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed. We must embrace sustainability and live within our ecological means. Everything we do, from the expansion of agribusiness to fishing, extensive logging, coal mining, oil and gas exploration and production and the search for alternate sources of energy, needs to pass the ethical test of sustainability. Our economic model of maximizing profit in an increasingly global market is unsustainable and we are passing on an increased environmental deficit to our children and grandchildren.
We are called to become part of a wide ranging, action-oriented dialogue on how we can better care for creation.
We all know that Francis is the patron saint of ecology and we pray his Canticle of the Creatures which is a starting point for the rich Franciscan vision of creation which is grounded in hope and joy because Creation is permeated by the presence of the Living Triune God. It is incarnational, sacramental, and speaks of haeccitas or “thisness,” the unique specialness of each particular living and nonliving thing, loved individually and particularly by God.
A good basic explanation of the Franciscan view of creation is found in Sr Ilia Delio’s book listed below. Human beings are but one element in God’s creation.
Because development of the Athabasca Oilsands is of such significance to Canadians and is of international interest and because it has been the subject of a well researched and comprehensive pastoral letter by Bishop Luc Bouchard of St Paulit is recommended that it be a special focus of study.
This pastoral letter is particularly recommended because it is a wonderful primer on the Catholic approach to JPIC and possible action. It is also available in French.
Objective:To understand the Franciscan and Catholic view of the care of creation.
One simple action: Write a letter to the Prime Minister, your federal MP, the Alberta government and media about protecting creation (the environment) through sustainable development that protects nature so it can be passed on to our children in good condition.
Four Key Sources
1. Celebrate Life: Care for Creation
The Alberta bishops' letter on ecology for October 4, 1998

2. Delio, OSF, Ilia
2003
A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World, The Franciscan Institute, St Bonaventure, New York. Volume Two in the Franciscan Heritage Series sponsored by the Commission on the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition of the English-speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor
Cost: US$5.00 plus shipping.Go to and click on Resources:
3. Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Social Affairs Commission
2003
A Pastoral Letter on the Christian Ecological Imperative

4. Bouchard, Bishop Luc,
2009
The Integrity of Creation and the Athabasca Oil Sands, 25 January 2009, Pastoral Letter, Diocese of St Paul, Alberta. This can be downloaded free (also available in French)

“The Church has a responsibility towards creation and she must assert this responsibility in the public sphere. In so doing, she must defend not only earth, water and air as gifts of creation that belong to everyone. She must above all protect mankind from self-destruction.”
Benedict XVI, 2009, Caritas in Veritate, (51)
"If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation."
Benedict XVI, Papal Message for World Day of Peace 2010

Biblical sources

1. Ps 65