Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Recently Pope Francis declared that “ecological sin” should be added to the Catholic catechism. Pope Francis’ desire to view ecology as a sacred tenet that must become part of church teachings and oversight stems from one of his early and significant encyclical letters, “Laudato Si’: Our Care for Our Common Home.” In writing such a letter, critics have noted the Pope’s attempts to make the Catholic Church more of a contemporary presence in challenges that the earth faces today. Pope Francis is also the first Pope from the Americas (and from a continent where many of its countries are still dealing with developing world issues). Pope Francis’ call for ecological respect of the planet is also portrayed through a social justice lens, which this paper examines. Though some might find the idea discomfiting, a liberal, developing world view based on social justice is also part of Pope Francis’ program to include ecology in the teachings of the Catholic Church. And could such a liberal or “Green” view for the ecology also be part of a larger vision that Pope Francis has for the church?