In the 2009 fall issue of the National Catholic Rural Life magazine in an article by Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace lists the “Ten Commandments for the Environmen” (A Christian view of humankind and nature)
The main points of the Church’s teaching on ecological matters, based on the bishop’s reading of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church are presented in these ten guiding principles, or commandments:
1. Christ’s incarnation and his teachings testify to the value of nature: Nothing that exists in this world is outside the divine plan of creation and redemption.
2. We should not reduce nature to a mere instrument to be manipulated and exploited. Nor should we make nature an absolute value, or put it above the dignity of the human person.
3. The question of the environment entails the whole planet, as it is a collective good. Our responsibility toward ecology extends to future generations.
4. The central point of reference for all scientific and technical applications must be respect for the human person, who in turn should treat the other created beings with respect.
5. Nature is a gift offered by our Creator to the human community, confided to human intelligence and moral responsibility. It follows, then, that it is not illicit to modify the ecosystem, so long as this is done within the context of a respect for its order and beauty, and taking into consideration the utility of every creature.
6. Economic development needs to take into consideration the integrity and rhythm of nature, because natural resources are limited. All economic
activity that uses natural resources should also include the costs of safeguarding the environment
into the calculations of the overall costs of its activity.
7. The goods of this world have been created by God to be wisely used by all. These goods should be shared with the poorest regions in a just and charitable manner. The principle of the universal destiny of goods offers a fundamental orientation to deal with the complex relationship between ecology and poverty.
8. Collaboration by means of worldwide agreements, backed up by international law, is necessary to protect the environment. These laws and agreements should be guided by the demands of the common good.
9. Lifestyles should be oriented according to the principles of sobriety, temperance and self-discipline, both at the personal and social levels. This change of lifestyle would be helped by a greater awareness of the interdependence between all the inhabitants of the earth.
10. A spiritual response must be given to environmental questions, inspired by the conviction that creation is a gift that God has placed in the hands of humankind, to be used responsibly and with loving care. People’s fundamental orientation toward the created world should be one of gratitude and thankfulness. The world, in fact, leads people back to the mystery of God who has created it and continues to sustain it. If nature were rediscovered in its role as something created, this would open for humankind a path toward God, Creator of the heavens and the earth.
The Bishop makes a compelling plea for placing the view of nature within the context of the relationship between God and the human person. He makes the point that a balance of conservation and development should guide actions, and people need to realize that the created goods of this world are destined for the use of all.
