Table of Contents
Preface xiii
Part I Catholic Teaching and the Environment 1
1 Theological and Historical Background of Laudato Si' 3
Previous Papal Teaching on the Environment 5
Other Voices 6
St. Francis of Assisi 7
Anti-Body and Anti-Creature Sentiments 7
The Book of Genesis 9
Genesis Understood from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Centuries 12
The Second Vatican Council's Domination Theology 14
Redefining Relationships 16
Linking the Poor and the Earth 17
Excessive Anthropocentrism 18
Bibliography 21
2 Climate Change 23
What Causes Climate Change? 25
Fourth and Fifth Assessment Reports of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 27
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Conference on Climate Change 29
Bishops' Conferences and Climate Change 30
Shaping a Theology and Morality around Climate Change 32
Intergenerational Justice 32
Sustainable Living 33
The Precautionary Principle 34
Preferential Option for the Poor 35
Solidarity 36
Climate Change in the United States 37
Denial 37
Politicians and Climate Change 38
US Catholic Church and Climate Change 41
Climate Change and Economics 43
Stranded Assets 43
Divestments 45
Norway Dumps Coal Stocks 46
Changes Need to Be Made Now 47
Stop Subsidizing Fossil Fuel 48
Renewables 48
Bibliography 50
3 Biodiversity 53
Biodiversity Hotspots 56
Extinction of Species and Faith 59
Extinction and the Resurrection of Jesus 61
Levels of Human Population 62
Bibliography 67
4 Fresh Water 69
Water Shortages 70
Water Pollution 71
Water and Poverty 72
Water and Health 73
Water and World Peace 74
Access to Water 76
Climate Change and Water 78
Privatizing Water 79
Water and Christianity 81
Bibliography 86
5 The Oceans 87
Oceans Threatened by Human Activity 88
Acidification of the Oceans 90
Ocean Deoxygenation 90
Stripping the Oceans Bare 91
Giant Trawlers Plunder the Seas 93
Industrial and Agricultural Waste 94
Plastic and Marine Life 95
Eutrophication 95
Mining the Oceans 96
Coral Reefs and Mangrove Forests 96
Caring for the Oceans 98
The Ocean in the Bible 100
Bibliography 103
6 Sustainable Food
New Agricultural Paradigm 106
Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming 108
Food Consumption 109
Meat Consumption 110
Loss of Genetic Diversity 111
Consumption and Waste 112
Need for a New Model in Agriculture 112
Enlightened Agriculture 113
Urban Farming as Part of the Answer 114
International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology (IAASTD) 114
The Contribution of Genetic Engineering 115
The Christian Response 117
Food and the Eucharist 118
Bibliography 120
7 Responsibility for Protecting the Environment 123
Need for Ecological Education 124
A Synod on Ecology at Local, National, and International Levels 128
Sources of Hope 129
A Visionary Rachel Carson 129
An Ominous Discovery Joe Famian 133
A Martyr for the Earth Dorothy Stang 135
The New Story Thomas Berry 137
Part II Laudato Si' 143
Chapter 1 What Is Happening to Our Common Home 154
I Pollution and Climate Change 155
II The Issue of Water 159
III Loss of Biodiversity 160
IV Decline in the Quality of Human Life and the Breakdown of Society 165
V Global Inequality 166
VI Weak Responses 170
VII A Variety of Opinions 173
Chapter 2 The Gospel of Creation 174
I The Light Offered by Faith 174
II The Wisdom of the Biblical Accounts 175
III The Mystery of the Universe 182
IV The Message of Each Creature in the Harmony of Creation 185
V A Universal Communion 188
VI The Common Destination of Goods 190
VII The Gaze of Jesus 192
Chapter 3 The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis 194
I Technology: Creativity and Power 195
II The Globalization of the Technocratic Paradigm 197
III The Crisis and Effects of Modem Anthropocentrism 202
Chapter 4 Integral Ecology 213
I Environmental, Economic and Social Ecology 213
II Cultural Ecology 216
III Ecology of Daily Life 218
IV The Principle of the Common Good 222
V Justice Between the Generations 223
Chapter 5 Lines of Approach and Action 225
1 Dialogue on the Environment in the International Community 225
II Dialogue for New National and Local Policies 231
III Dialogue and Transparency in Decision-Making 234
IV Politics and Economy in Dialogue for Human Fulfilment 236
V Religions in Dialogue with Science 241
Chapter 6 Ecological Education and Spirituality 243
I Towards a New Lifestyle 244
II Educating for the Covenant between Humanity and the Environment 246
III Ecological Conversion 249
IV Joy and Peace 252
V Civic and Political Love 255
VI Sacramental Signs and the Celebration of Rest 257
VII The Trinity and the Relationship between Creatures 260
VIII Queen of All Creation 261
IX Beyond the Sun 262
Index 267
