43. Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture.
In the last past month, there have been many decision that have come from the Supreme Court which have greatly upset many people. Decisions on gun control, prayer, the Environment and most especially abortion. Everyone of these decisions we see with the eyes of faith.
As Catholic Christians the Constitution of the United States makes great deal of sense to us. We believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are not against guns, a woman’s right to control her body, a business right to earn a profit. We have nothing against coal, or coal miners. But we put all these things in perspective. And for us the right to life is always supreme. The right to life comes before all else. It is the lens through which we see all else.
Driving up from Los Angeles the Central Valley is filled with advertisements. Most are against Governor Newsom and call for more water for the crops in our fields. There were signs like “Give us our DAM water!” “Governor Newsom don’t send our fresh water into the ocean.” “Give us more dams.” And so on and so forth.
I don’t know much about water conservation, but it seems clear to me that California has a scarcity of water. In Wisconsin where I was born 35 inches of rain felt last year and 44 inches of snow. There was rain or snow 125 days last year. San Francisco got 8.97 inches and the year before that 11.7. Of course, there was no snow. I don’t think you have to be a scientist to know that there is a shortage of water here in California. We are in time of severe drought. We have been asked to conserve our use of water. I must admit that the Bay Area has done more than Southern California in cutting back on water usage. Obviously more needs to be done.
I will be honest with you; I didn’t pick this year’s theme. It was Fr. Dan’s choice. The environment is a hard topic to preach on but unfortunately, we know that it is so necessary. People may say the same thing about the pope that he should be talking about spiritual things like the beatitudes and praying the Our Father but unfortunately we have to talk about the environment. As a Church we believe that our Faith and the scripture always has something to say about important topics. 150 years there were problems with the rights of workers and the Church began a whole new consideration of the rights or workers. Yes, we would rather pray the rosary but unfortunately when the world is in crisis we will always speak out.
Just this week we heard of the heat wave in Europe and the highest temperature ever recorded in England. We know that it has brought with it forest fires and a whole slew of other problems. Another heat wave is touching much of the United States. Forest Fires are getting more frequent, hotter and are doing more damage. I talked about the beauty of the Sequoias and ever year more of them are felled by the fires.
Yes, we may not want to talk about climate change and the environment. It might be nice to talk about the beatitudes and the mysteries of the Rosary but our world is in trouble brothers and sisters. And I believe that whatever it is that we are facing, if it is problems in a marriage; immigration, the school your kids go to or who is the DA of your county. The Gospel has some to say about all of these issues and concerns.
So as Catholic Christians we are first aware. We need to be aware of what is going on in world. Secondly, we bring the light of the Gospel to these issues. What ever the problem is, we face it with eyes of faith.
The United States Bishops conference has asked us Catholics to take the Saint Francis Pledge. What is the Saint Francis Pledge? I am glad that you asked that Fr. Maurice.
During the Easter season, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change launched a “Catholic Climate Covenant,” a new initiative to make U.S. Catholics more aware of what they can do to stem climate change and its effects. It was unveiled on Earth Day, April 22.
The covenant includes “The St. Francis Pledge to Protect Creation and the Poor,” modeled after St. Francis of Assisi, whose “Canticle of the Sun” praised God’s creation in the form of, among other things, earth, water and creatures.
The pledge is “a solemn commitment made by Catholic individuals, groups and institutions to honor God’s creation and serve the poor,” according to the pledge’s preamble. The pledge’s five points ask Catholics to:
Pray and reflect on the duty to care for God’s creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.
Learn about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.
Assess how we as individuals and in our families, parishes and other institutions contribute to climate change by our own energy use and consumption, waste etc.
ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.
Pray and Reflect, as I said on Tuesday nature should naturally lead us to contemplation. But you don’t have to go to Yosemite or even to Muir Woods. Yesterday I rented a bike and rode through Golden Gate Park. A walk in the park should move a Catholic Christian to prayer. Or as I said onTuesday… one of these flowers.
As Catholics we are a community of prayer. It is important for us to spend time outside in creation. To meditate on the wonders of creation. To pray for it. I mentioned the majesty of the sequoia, any tree or flower should be enough. But we need to make a conscious effort. It is important for us to spend time every day meditating upon the goodness of God’s creation.
LEARN, As I said there are different opinions about the environment. About the use of water. It is easy to be swayed by “fake news”. It is important for us to learn about the environment. Is it better to drive to Los Angeles or to fly? What is your carbon footprint. But not just learn but also be aware of the moral dimensions of our choices. As the pope has pointed out again and again the poor are the ones who are disproportionately affected by climate change. The pope has pointed out that the choices made here by Americans effects the poor in Africa.
ASSESS. We need to take an honest look at how we use our world’s resources. When I first came here St Anne’s was surrounded by a lush green lawn. Something that makes sense in a place like Wisconsin where there is so much rain. Fr. Dan wisely decided to pull out the grass and put in plants that use less water. Each one of us needs to assess our use of water. As I said San Franciscans deserve a pat on the back. You have reduced your use of water. You have one of the lowest rates of Water usage in the state, in the country.
ACT: once you assess your water usage this naturally leads to the second point. ACT. You must do something to protect human life. It might see silly but something as small as not running the water when you brush your teeth, using low energy light bulbs. Combing trips together. All these things make a small difference, all of us making a small difference makes a big difference. We learn a new way to live and use things and soon the world is a bette place for all of us.
ADVOCATE; the last part of the St. Francis Pledge is to advocate.To say something to your neighbor, you know when you water the grass ½ the water runs into the street. To remind others in a gentle way, do you really need to drive over to the store, could you walk, or could you wait til tomorrow and do two trips at once. I know that many of you are firm believers in writing a letter to your elected officials. I think it is good for us to write them but to use our Christian principles to underline what we do what we do. Others might recycle to save money; we save money and we follow the words of the scripture. We show our concern for the environment.
If we are concerned about our environment, we will naturally want to protect vulnerable human beings. When we care for our environment, we are caring for God’s creation. After God created the world and saw how good it was, he gave it to Adam and Eve. He said we should cultivate it and care for it. Cultivate it means that we use the earth for our needs, to care for it means that we take care of it so that it be around for future generations. For too many years we have cultivated the earth without caring for it. As Catholic Christians we believe that we can do both.
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