Ecological Integrity
Earth and all its inhabitants are amazing manifestations of God's creativity. The human community now has a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all of life. At the same time, we also realize Earth's fragility and the need to restore and protect Earth's ecological integrity. 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 deleting 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. To restore and sustain Earth, we must immediately reduce the impact of humankind on the life systems of our planet. This requires that we "adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights and community well-being." (Earth Charter #7)
Our work to promote ecological integrity takes many different forms, such as:
- providing resources for prayer, reflection and study on the relationship between faith, spirituality and an ecologically sustainable lifestyle;
- educating ourselves and others on the specific causes of environmental deterioration, particularly over-consumption of resources in the U.S. and the Global North;
- promoting lifestyle changes that are respectful of all life on Earth; and
- engaging in advocacy in support of U.S. legislation and international treaties/protocols promoting environmental protection and sustainability.
For more information on Ecological Integrity, see: