Earth Day for Catholics? Yes!

I find it very distressing that so many Catholics view environmentalism as a dirty word. Somehow caring for God’s Creation has gotten associated with being a liberal (apparently an even dirtier word) or “new age” and therefore must be something Catholics should avoid.
I say HOGWASH!
The Catholic Church has a long history of promoting care for the environment and we would see that if only we can find the courage to look beyond the politics of the day.
For those interested in learning more about what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches us about environmentalism, don’t just take my word for it, but please visit the excellent website Catholic Conservation Center. This website has a wealth of quotes, essays, and articles on the Catholic understanding of God’s plan for creation.
Here is a quote from the site:

“Since its inception, the Church has instructed us on the proper dominion and stewardship of Creation. This wisdom is made known to us through sacred Scripture, the living Tradition of the Church, the message of Creation, and the voice of conscience enlightened by God’s law.
The Catholic approach to environmental justice is based on the two commandments of Jesus Christ: to love God above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love of God requires respect for God’s gifts and for God’s will for Creation. Love of neighbor requires justice, which prohibits the selfish destruction of the environment without regard for those in need today or for the needs of future generations.”

And if that doesn’t convince you, there is so much more!
Read the words of our beloved late Pope John Paul II in “Peace with God the Creator, Peace with all Creation”
Read also excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Curch.
Read quotes from St. Francis, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, and St. Therese Lisieux.
The list goes on and on!
So, as faithful Catholics what can we do to help? Recycle? Compost? Park the SUV?

Well, as I posted on the 4real learning boards, if you are a homeschooler and following the methods of Charlotte Mason (as we often do here at Lapazfarm) you are probably already doing the most important thing you can do… Getting your children out into nature! The more they come to know and love the out-of-doors, the more they will be invested in caring for it. After all, when nature is your friend, you don’t want to see any harm come to it.
This is so much more important than anything else we can do, because we are forming the environmental ethics of the next generation, who will unfortunately be left with a less-than-ideal legacy to deal with.
True, we all have a responsibility to care for God’s creation right now, by conserving resources, cutting back on harmful emissions and pollutants, and protecting fragile wild places. But let us also be sure to let our children see us doing these things and help them to understand why.
Creation is a beautiful gift from God, Who knows exactly what we need to live. To misuse it is disrespectful to Him Who gave it to us. We need to be sure to show a deep appreciation for the bounty which God has provided. After all, He deserves, and indeed commands it.
So, keep on doing that nature study-it’s good for the Earth and good for the soul!