Pope Speaks Out on Church's Responsibility for Creation.

Here are some quotes form Pope Benedict XVI on care for creation:

"The Church has a responsibility towards creation and she must assert this responsibility in the public sphere." (Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 2009, No. 51).

"In a word, concern for the environment calls for a broad global vision of the world; a responsible common effort to move beyond approaches based on selfish nationalistic interests towards a vision constantly open to the needs of all peoples." (Pope Benedict XVI, 2010 World Day of Peace Message, No. 11)

Read more Catholic teaching on the environment from the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, http://tinyurl.com/ClimateTeaching

Reflection on the Sunday Readings for July 31

31 July 2011, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Bible readings

Reflection

A woman at my parish does a weekly bulletin article with reflections on the Gospel of the week.  Thought you would enjoy this!

Detroit Parish Takes to Heart Stewardship of God's Creation

Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church in Detroit has taken the message of “being good stewards of the earth” seriously: inviting speakers to discuss reducing carbon footprints, holding sustainability workshops, reducing waste management costs by 50% through aggressive recycling, upgrading lights and windows, reducing water use, creating a parish garden, and composting yard waste for the local 4H community center. 

Learn more at: http://tinyurl.com/Nativity-Stewardship

Catholic Social Teaching is a Treasure

Rich and poor have a common bond: the LORD is the maker of them all. – Proverbs 22:2

Find an excellent summary of Catholic Social Teaching at the Catholic Climate Covenant website:
http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Climate-Change-and-Catholic-Social-Teaching.pdf

The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of our society. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) outlines Seven Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching:
(1) Life and Dignity of the Human Person,
(2) Call to Family, Community, and Participation,
(3) Rights and Responsibilities,
(4) Option for the Poor and Vulnerable,
(5) The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers,
(6) Solidarity,
(7) Care for God’s Creation.

“[W]e cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations.” (Blessed Pope John Paul II, 1990 World Day of Peace Message, No. 6)


The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. – Genesis 2:15