Church’s Response to the Earth’s Healing in the Face of Ecological Crisis
Authors: Donozo Arnold , Tutor Julius , Guia Kim 
Published: February 2023

The Roman Catholic Church, thru the Supreme Pontiff, prides herself in her prophetic vocation. Just like the prophets of old, the Church speaks whenever there are social issues that threatens the people of God. Currently, all people are facing the ecological crisis as characterized by unprecedented natural weather patterns (climate change), loss of species of both flora and fauna, desertification and the like. As a crisis, it needs an immediate response. This response is the main focus of this research. Hence, this research aimed to fulfill the following objectives: to describe the current ecological crisis; to identify the Church’s traditional and scriptural basis in responding to the challenges of the ecological crisis; to examine the different Church’s encyclical and teachings as responses to ecological crisis; and to propose recommendations to alleviate the present ecological crisis. The social action cycle of Mater et Magistra was used as framework in identifying the origins of the crisis (context), followed by identifying diachronically the response of the Church drawing from the scripture, tradition (conscience), and examining synchronically the response of the Church’s encyclical with special emphasis on Laudato Si, concluding with concrete recommendations (consciousness) to help alleviate the present ecological crisis. Thus, the result showed that the current ecological crisis is characterized by ‘excessive anthropocentrism’ which is a clear misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the human and nature relationships. Moreover, a clear interpretation of the Biblical truth must be preserved. Lastly, the Catholic Social Teachings, specifically the Laudato Si, indicated that there is a need for a “Dialogue”, among various sciences, to respond effectively to the ecological crisis.
References
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9, 27-40.Christiansen, D and Grazer, W, (Eds.). (1996). And God saw that it was good: Catholic Theology and the environment. USA: United States Catholic Conference.Hornsby-Smith, M. P. (2006). An introduction to catholic social thought. New York: Cambridge University Press.Jenkins, Willis. (2008). Ecologies of grace: Environmental ethics and Christian Theology. London: Oxford University Press.Josol, A. M., CSsR. (1991). “What is happening to our beautiful land,” in Responses to the Signs of the Times: Selected Documents: Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Quezon City: Claretian, pp. 306-320.Leavy, Patricia. (2017). Research Design. New York: The Guilford Press.McDonagh, S. (1987). To care for the earth: A call for a new theology, London: Geoffrey Chapman.
O’Murchu, D. (2004). Quantum theology: Spiritual implications of the new physics (Revised Ed.). NY: The Crossroads PublishingCompany.Pope Benedict XVI. (2010). If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace. http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedictxvi/en/messages/peace/documents/hf_benxvi_mes_20091208_xliii-world-day-peace.html
Pope Francis. (2015a). Laudato si (On care for our common home). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Pope Francis. (2015b). Pope Francis I speech to the Filipino audience in the year 2015. University of Sto. Tomas-Manila.Pope John XXIII. (1961). Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Pope John Paul II. (1987a). Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (The concern of the church for social order). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Pope John Paul II. (1990b). Peace with God the creator, peace with all of creation. Message of His Holiness Pope John Paul II for the celebration of the World Day of Peace. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paulii/en/messages/peace/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_19891208_x xiii-world-day-for-peace.html.Pope John Paul II. (1979c). Redemptoris Hominis. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Pope John Paul II. (1991d). Centesimus Annus. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Pope Leo XIII. (1891). Rerum Novarum (Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Pope Paul VI. (1971). Octogesima Adveniens (The eightieth anniversary). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Rozzi, R., et al. (2013). Linking ecology and ethics for a changing world: Values, philosophy, and action, Springer, 1, Switzerland.Rozzi, R., et al. (2015). Earth stewardship: Linking ecology and ethics in theory and practice, Springer, 2, Switzerland.White, Lynn. (1967). The historical roots of our ecological crisis. Science 155: 1203-1207. http://www.cmu.ca/faculty/gmatties/lynnwhiterootsofcrisis.pdfWilliams, C. (2010). Ecology and socialism: Solutions to capitalist ecological crisis. Chicago: Haymarket Books.