Maybe the word that best describes my reaction upon reading
the recent statement from Pope Francis entitled “ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME” is stunned. The statement is laced with
the language of progressive social, environmental and economic justice. Reporting on such a profound document
and its’ implications upon future inter religious dialogue can at best only
scratch the surface of this game changing statement. Let me urge everyone to set aside time to read the entire
document:
Upon my first reading I was struck with language that seemed
to denounce the long-standing doctrine of the church that has fuled extremist
environmental dominionism over our planet. It was this passage that got me to
thinking about the profound change in church thinking
“If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe
and wonder, if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our
relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers,
ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs.”
Pope Francis further cites the eastern orthodox churches
leader in support of his stance:
“Patriarch Bartholomew has spoken in particular of the need for each of
us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet, for “inasmuch as we all
generate small ecological damage”, we are called to acknowledge “our
contribution, smaller or greater, to the disfigurement and destruction of
creation”.[14]
He has repeatedly stated this firmly and persuasively, challenging us to acknowledge
our sins against creation”
This departure from conservative religious dogma is enough
all by itself to convince me of the importance of the document; but there
was more to come. Pope Francis
goes on to acknowledge how acceleration of change affects us all and coins
a term to describe his opinion. In
support of his point he goes on to implicitly recognize “biological evolution”,
my eyes became very large while reading is:
“The continued acceleration of changes affecting humanity and the
planet is coupled today with a more intensified pace of life and work which
might be called “rapidification”. Although change is part of the working of
complex systems, the speed with which human activity has developed contrasts
with the naturally slow pace of biological evolution.
The social dimensions of global change include the effects of
technological innovations on employment, social exclusion, an inequitable
distribution and consumption of energy and other services, social breakdown,
increased violence and a rise in new forms of social aggression, drug
trafficking, growing drug use by young people, and the loss of identity. These
are signs that the growth of the past two centuries has not always led to an
integral development and an improvement in the quality of life. Some of these
signs are also symptomatic of real social decline, the silent rupture of the
bonds of integration and social cohesion.
As I read further it becames clear that this Pope understands
the role that consumerism and unbridled capitalism plays in oppression around
the world
“It needs to be said that, generally speaking, there is little in the
way of clear awareness of problems which especially affect the excluded. Yet
they are the majority of the planet’s population, billions of people. These
days, they are mentioned in international political and economic discussions,
but one often has the impression that their problems are brought up as an
afterthought,
To blame population growth instead of extreme and selective consumerism
on the part of some is one way of refusing to face the issues.
Yet it would also be mistaken to view other living beings as mere objects
subjected to arbitrary human domination. When nature is viewed solely as a
source of profit and gain, this has serious consequences for society. This
vision of “might is right” has engendered immense inequality, injustice and
acts of violence against the majority of humanity, since resources end up in
the hands of the first comer or the most powerful: the winner takes all”
“Just as I begin to think that I have grasped the totality
of this statement Pope Francis goes on to embrace cultural sensitivity and
denounce the cultural and physical destruction of indigenous cultures. My sense
of what the Roman church stands for has been decimated. I am stunned!
A sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our
hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings. It
is clearly inconsistent to combat trafficking in endangered species while
remaining completely indifferent to human trafficking, unconcerned about the
poor.
Ecology, then, also involves protecting the cultural treasures of
humanity in the broadest sense. More specifically, it calls for greater
attention to local cultures when studying environmental problems, favouring a
dialogue between scientific-technical language and the language of the people.
Culture is more than what we have inherited from the past; it is also, and
above all, a living, dynamic and participatory present reality, which cannot be
excluded as we rethink the relationship between human beings and the
environment.
In this sense, it is essential to show special care for indigenous
communities and their cultural traditions. They are not merely one minority
among others, but should be the principal dialogue partners, especially when
large projects affecting their land are proposed. For them, land is not a
commodity but rather a gift from God and from their ancestors who rest there, a
sacred space with which they need to interact if they are to maintain their
identity and values. When they remain on their land, they themselves care for
it best. Nevertheless, in various parts of the world, pressure is being put on
them to abandon their homelands to make room for agricultural or mining
projects which are undertaken without regard for the degradation of nature and
culture.”
In an acknowledgement on the responsibility that western
consumer societies have for the damage being done to our collective home he
makes a good point about our cultural attachment to consumerism.
In those countries which should be making the greatest changes in
consumer habits, young people have a new ecological sensitivity and a generous
spirit, and some of them are making admirable efforts to protect the
environment. At the same time, they have grown up in a milieu of extreme
consumerism and affluence which makes it difficult to develop other habits. We
are faced with an educational challenge.
A number of pages are devoted to making his case to Catholics
via Christian doctrine and biblical passages. Just as I begin to sense that I have grasped the totality of
the statement he adds this description of Mary that is as eloquent an acknowledgment
of the divine feminine as I have ever encountered coming from any Christian,
much less a Pontiff.
Mary, the Mother who cared for Jesus, now cares with maternal affection
and pain for this wounded world. Just as her pierced heart mourned the death of
Jesus, so now she grieves for the sufferings of the crucified poor and for the
creatures of this world laid waste by human power. Completely transfigured, she
now lives with Jesus, and all creatures sing of her fairness. She is the
Woman, “clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a
crown of twelve stars
Am I going to run out and become Catholic? Not a chance.
There remain wide areas of disagreement that prevent me from fully endorsing
the beliefs of the Roman Church.
That being said, this is a profound document. When an ancient institution culpable in the worldwide
spread of Patriarchy, and environmental and social genocide reverses course it
is a victory for rational thought among our planetary community. The intersections of mutual interest
with the Vatican have just grown ten fold. I look forward to working with the
church in seeking environmental, social and economic justice. Just the mere fact that the church now sees
these things as connected may establish this as the most important religious
publication of our lifetimes.
There is so much more to this document, these are the things that impacted me upon a first reading. I would love to hear how it impacted others in the community. Please let me know in the comments section.
1 comment:
I declined to sign the Pagan Community Statement on the Environment out of great disappointment in its failure to address any of these things.
I actually find myself wishing I could sign on to his, instead. The Pope pretty much 'punked' Paganism here...
--Rhyd
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