Created things belong not to the few, but to the entire human family. The ecological problem is intimately connected to justice for the poor. The poor of the earth offer a special test of our solidarity. The painful adjustments we have to undertake in our own economies for the sake of the environment must not diminish our sensitivity to the needs of the poor at home and abroad. The option for the poor embedded in the Gospel and in the church's teaching makes us aware that the poor suffer most directly from environmental decline and have the least access to relief from their suffering.
Indigenous peoples die with their forests and grasslands.
Nature will truly enjoy its second spring only when humanity has compassion for its own weakest members. A related and vital concern is the church's constant commitment to the dignity of work and the rights of workers. Environmental progress cannot come at the expense of workers and their rights. Solutions must be found which do not force us to choose between a decent environment and a decent life for workers. We recognize the potential conflicts in this area and will work for greater understanding, communication and common ground between workers and environmentalists.