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 Message of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
for the celebration of the
World Day of Peace
1 January 2010
1. At the beginning of this New Year, I wish to offer heartfelt greetings of peace to all Christian communities, international leaders, and people of good will throughout the world. For this XLIII World Day of Peace I have chosen the theme: If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation. Respect for creation is of immense consequence, not least because “creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works”,[1] and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind. Man’s inhumanity to man has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to authentic and integral human development – wars, international and regional conflicts, acts of terrorism, and violations of human rights. 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. For this reason, it is imperative that mankind renew and strengthen “that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying”.[2]
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Environmental Justice
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 The Diocese of San Jose in partnership with Catholic Charities, Santa Clara University and the Presentation Retreat and Conference Center has recently formed the Catholic Green Initiative of Santa Clara County. The coalition will promote environmental stewardship throughout the diocese and join a growing list of Catholic groups taking the St. Francis Pledge to Care for God's Creation and the Poor.
"Within this initiative, we are creating educational programs and action plans to encourage and assist the San Jose Catholic community to live and operate more simply and sustainably," explained Bishop Patrick McGrath. "Our plan is to formally initiate the Campaign in all of our parishes and schools on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, 2009. We will be asking all parishioners to sign the St. Francis Pledge."
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 Is it a sin to toss trash out your car window? Do Christians have a moral obligation to recycle their paper, glass and plastics? What about energy consumption? Are the number and length of our daily showers, our use of heating and air conditioning, the gas mileage of our cars, even the use of our cars, our daily consumption of disposable items, of any moral importance whatsoever?
Is all this talk of global warming, climate change, ecological stewardship and care of the environment simply more "politically correct" rhetoric? Does the Church offer any direction about this?
Read the complete article by Fr. Richard Benson, CM, in The Tidings, Southern California's Catholic Weekly. |
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 by Keith Douglass Warner OFM,Luke Clause,and Stephen Maurano
Excerpted from: Poverty & Environmental Justice in California's Great Central Valley
With his World Day of Peace Message about the environment in 1990, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, Pope John Paul II launched a flurry of interest in matters environmental among Catholic theologians. John Paul II rooted his environmental theology in the stewardship ethic of Genesis, and linked it with his vision for solidarity with the poorest on this planet. He carried forward a vision for distributive justice of the earth's resources for everyone, initiated by Pope Leo XII in Rerum Novarum and affirmed by the major statements of Catholic social teaching for the past century. More than anyone else, Pope John Paul II conferred legitimacy on Catholic concern for the environment.
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