Alaska bishops praise pope’s encyclical on care of creation

CatholicAnchor.org

The Catholic bishops of Alaska have issued strong words of support for Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the care of creation and the environment.

The 184-page document, “Laudato Si,” meaning “Praise be to You,” was released on June 18. It is subtitled “On the Care of our Common Home.”

“As the leaders of the Catholic Church in Alaska, we welcome with joy and thanksgiving the Holy Father’s much-awaited encyclical,” said Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, Juneau Bishop Edward Burns and Fairbanks Bishop Chad Zielinski in a joint statement following the encyclical’s release.

“At the heart of “Laudato si” we find this question: ‘What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?’ the bishop quoted from the new encyclical.

They noted that the pope deals with environmental issues within the context of the purpose of life and why human beings exist at all.

Quoting from the pope’s encyclical the bishops note: “Why are we here? What is the goal of our work and all our efforts? What need does the earth have of us?”

The pope suggests that unless society struggles with these deeper issues our concern for ecology will not produce significant results, Alaska bishops highlighted.

“The Holy Father’s encyclical calls upon Christians and all people of good will to embrace the idea of ‘integral ecology’ as a way of articulating the fundamental relationships of every human person: with God, with one’s self, with other human beings and with the creation,” Alaska’s bishops stated.

They added: “In the encyclical, Pope Francis notes that this integral ecology begins by listening spiritually to the results of the best scientific research on environmental matters that is available, stating, ‘letting [these results] touch us deeply and provide a concrete foundation for the ethical and spiritual itinerary that follows.’ Science, the Holy Father proposes, is the best tool by which we can listen to the cry of the earth.”

Alaska’s bishops noted that human beings have been entrusted by God to be stewards of creation.

“The care for creation is a pressing issue, especially in the light of the great harm being done to the natural world of which we are a part, and the threat to the poorest and most vulnerable people worldwide because of environmental destruction,” Alaska’s bishops stated. “This encyclical invites each of us to prayerfully examine our consciences, and review not only how we have lived in communion with God and with others, but also with all creatures and with nature.”

The new encyclical has been much anticipated and it covers issues such as climate change, while forcefully arguing that there can be no long-term protection of the environment without first upholding and defending human life.

To read the encyclical in its entirety, go to the Vatican website at http://w2.vatican.va.