Resources on Environmental Justice/Care for Creation
Church Statements:
Pope Francis, Encyclical, “Laudato Si’—On Care for our Common Home,” (May 2015): https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html.
Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation, “Laudate Deum,” (October 4, 2023): https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20231004-laudate-deum.html.
“The Letter. Laudato Si’ Film.” This 88-minute film tells the story of Pope Francis’ encyclical to care for the earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rps9bs85BII&t=6s.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Statement, “Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching,” (November 1991): https://www.usccb.org/resources/renewing-earth.
Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Care for Creation Quotes.” Many are from Saint Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/climate-change-quotes.
Organizations and Websites:
Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform, an initiative of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. It equips the Church to achieve real and lasting solutions to the ecological crisis. This ever-growing program supports participants to develop tailored Laudato Si’ Action Plans to accomplish one purpose: Concrete actions to protect our common home. The website has extensive resources from webinars to personal, family and parish action plans to help care for creation. https://laudatosiactionplatform.org.
The Catholic Climate Covenant. Catholic Climate Covenant helps U.S. Catholics respond to the Church’s call to care for creation and those most affected by the climate crisis. It is grounded in the Church’s deep history of teaching on creation, ecology, and the most vulnerable. Its website contains extensive resources. https://catholicclimatecovenant.org.
Season of Creation. The Season of Creation started with Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I who proclaimed 1 September as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox in 1989. Later, the World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a “season,” extending the celebration from 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, until 4 October, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In 2015, Pope Francis officially made the Season of Creation part of the Church’s calendar. During the month- long celebration, Christians from around the world come together in prayer and action for our common home. The website contains many suggestions and resources for engaging in this special time. https://seasonofcreation.org/about/.