The earth is an amazing gift of God. We are growing in our appreciation of this fact, and are realizing the wonder and mystery of the interconnectedness of all of life. However, as Elizabeth Johnson CSJ writes: “...the present moment is marked by a strange paradox: the more we gaze in wonder at Earth, the more we realize that human actions are ravaging and depleting the natural world.”

The capacity of our planet to sustain life is being exhausted by the pressures of humankind and the market economy. Species are disappearing at an alarming rate. The air, water and soil are being fouled by industrial waste and the overuse of chemicals. The only way to restore and maintain the health of the earth is to reduce human impact on the environment. This requires a serious evaluation of our lifestyle and our patterns of consumption.

Our work for ecological sustainability takes many forms. In particular, we engage in:

• providing resources for prayer, reflection and study on the relationship between faith and ecological consciousness;
• education on the specific causes of environmental deterioration, particularly First World over-consumption of resources;
• promotion of life-style changes that are respectful of the life of our planet;
• advocacy in favor of U.S. legislation and international treaties/protocols promoting environmental protection.

For more information on ecological sustainability issues, check these links:

Corporate Stand on Land Use and Reform - 1994
Videotapes: videos on Ecology and Land Reform
Links page: organizations working for ecological sustainability
Click here for our CSC Prayer Service for Earth Day 2005   
Corporate Stand on Water as a Human Right and Public Trust - 2004