THIS might be too big or too abstract
an issue for a
newspaper column to tackle, but I think it is worthwhile to bring it
out if only to remind ourselves of our responsibility as stewards of
God’s creation whose integrity we have to uphold, enhance and defend.
The world today is developing very fast, and we just have
to get a handle on these developments that clearly are not all that
right. There are many questionable things taking place, like the issue
of climate change etc. That’s why we now have a graver concern over
how we are taking care of our environment, with Pope Francis, for
example, issuing an encyclical on it entitled, ‘Laudato si.’
As God’s image and likeness and redeemed children of his
through Christ, we are tasked to take care of God’s creation. “Be
fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule
over the fish in the sea and birds in the sky and over every living
creature that moves on the ground.” (Gen 1,28) That was God’s clear
mandate to our first parents. It continues to be ours too, till the
end of time.
The world has been given to us by God as the place for us
to do our life’s test of whether to love him in return or not. As
such, it comes to us with a certain order, direction and unity. It
comes to us with laws that we try to discover and follow.
As the masterpiece of that creation, we are made its
stewards who have to take care of it, always with the mind of God and
never just with our own ideas. That’s why we need to always be in
God’s presence, asking for his guidance. We can never overemphasize
our need for prayer, for studying the doctrine of our faith, so we can
discern God’s will and ways as we go through our earthly affairs.
Offhand, the catechism tells us some basic indications of
how we can respect the integrity of creation. “Animals, like plants
and inanimate beings,” it says, “are by nature destined for the common
good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral,
vegetable and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from
respect for moral imperatives.” (CCC 2415)
It continues by saying that “man’s dominion over inanimate
and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is
limited by concern for the equality of life of his neighbor, including
generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity
of creation.”
In following these indications with prudence, I imagine
that aside from prayer and study, a lot of consultation among
concerned parties should be done. This is especially so when dealing
with legitimate interests and values that compete and collide against
each other.
Let’s hope that we develop the appropriate attitudes,
skills and structures to put these ideals into practice. Leaders from
various sectors—church, politics, business, culture, etc.—should come
together to develop this greater sensitivity toward our duty to
respect the integrity of creation.
St. John Paul II once remarked: “It is the Creator’s will
that humans should treat nature not as a ruthless exploiter, but as an
intelligent and responsible administrator.” We need to have a clear
idea of what would comprise keeping and enhancing the integrity of
God’s creation and what would harm it.
In this regard, the Church is offering her social doctrine
to give some guidance. “The Church receives from the Gospel the full
revelation of the truth about man. When she fulfills her mission of
proclaiming the Gospel, she bears witness to man, in the name of
Christ, to his dignity and his vocation to the communion of persons.
She teaches him the demands of justice and peace in conformity with
divine wisdom.” (CCC 2419)
It is important that the voice of the Church be heard and
considered with utmost respect. While human ideologies will always
have something valid to offer, it is our God-given faith that at the
end of the day contains all the truth about how we have to carry out
our duty toward the integrity of creation.
It is our God-given faith that puts everything in order,
in unity and with proper direction. It covers all the needs of man and
provides the resources for any eventualities that can take place in
our earthly affairs, including our mistakes.
This God-given faith, together with its necessary
complement of hope and charity, should serve as the spirit behind all
our temporal affairs that would need all the helpful contributions of
our sciences and technologies.
newspaper column to tackle, but I think it is worthwhile to bring it
out if only to remind ourselves of our responsibility as stewards of
God’s creation whose integrity we have to uphold, enhance and defend.
The world today is developing very fast, and we just have
to get a handle on these developments that clearly are not all that
right. There are many questionable things taking place, like the issue
of climate change etc. That’s why we now have a graver concern over
how we are taking care of our environment, with Pope Francis, for
example, issuing an encyclical on it entitled, ‘Laudato si.’
As God’s image and likeness and redeemed children of his
through Christ, we are tasked to take care of God’s creation. “Be
fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule
over the fish in the sea and birds in the sky and over every living
creature that moves on the ground.” (Gen 1,28) That was God’s clear
mandate to our first parents. It continues to be ours too, till the
end of time.
The world has been given to us by God as the place for us
to do our life’s test of whether to love him in return or not. As
such, it comes to us with a certain order, direction and unity. It
comes to us with laws that we try to discover and follow.
As the masterpiece of that creation, we are made its
stewards who have to take care of it, always with the mind of God and
never just with our own ideas. That’s why we need to always be in
God’s presence, asking for his guidance. We can never overemphasize
our need for prayer, for studying the doctrine of our faith, so we can
discern God’s will and ways as we go through our earthly affairs.
Offhand, the catechism tells us some basic indications of
how we can respect the integrity of creation. “Animals, like plants
and inanimate beings,” it says, “are by nature destined for the common
good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral,
vegetable and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from
respect for moral imperatives.” (CCC 2415)
It continues by saying that “man’s dominion over inanimate
and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is
limited by concern for the equality of life of his neighbor, including
generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity
of creation.”
In following these indications with prudence, I imagine
that aside from prayer and study, a lot of consultation among
concerned parties should be done. This is especially so when dealing
with legitimate interests and values that compete and collide against
each other.
Let’s hope that we develop the appropriate attitudes,
skills and structures to put these ideals into practice. Leaders from
various sectors—church, politics, business, culture, etc.—should come
together to develop this greater sensitivity toward our duty to
respect the integrity of creation.
St. John Paul II once remarked: “It is the Creator’s will
that humans should treat nature not as a ruthless exploiter, but as an
intelligent and responsible administrator.” We need to have a clear
idea of what would comprise keeping and enhancing the integrity of
God’s creation and what would harm it.
In this regard, the Church is offering her social doctrine
to give some guidance. “The Church receives from the Gospel the full
revelation of the truth about man. When she fulfills her mission of
proclaiming the Gospel, she bears witness to man, in the name of
Christ, to his dignity and his vocation to the communion of persons.
She teaches him the demands of justice and peace in conformity with
divine wisdom.” (CCC 2419)
It is important that the voice of the Church be heard and
considered with utmost respect. While human ideologies will always
have something valid to offer, it is our God-given faith that at the
end of the day contains all the truth about how we have to carry out
our duty toward the integrity of creation.
It is our God-given faith that puts everything in order,
in unity and with proper direction. It covers all the needs of man and
provides the resources for any eventualities that can take place in
our earthly affairs, including our mistakes.
This God-given faith, together with its necessary
complement of hope and charity, should serve as the spirit behind all
our temporal affairs that would need all the helpful contributions of
our sciences and technologies.
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