Editor:
George Weigel’s article, “Papal environmentalism: pro-life, pro-marriage,” is an excellent synthesis of the problems, misunderstandings and narrow interpretation of environmentalism rampant in today’s society. The Holy Father reminds us of what Thomas Aquinas promulgated in the 13th century. God charged man with the responsibility to protect and care for all that he created, particularly because creation is the window through which God tells us who he is.
Since God is love and truth, nothing in creation fails to affirm these realities. George Weigel helped me to articulate to myself what has been a major stumbling block in understanding why the church seemingly has anointed an environmental activism that is not based in truth. In actuality, Pope Benedict has clarified that the church’s position is the opposite of this thesis. He does this by dissecting the movement, and making clear that creation is a moral whole that ratifies life in all its forms and stages, and an affirmation of marriage and family as created by God, not man.
If the scientific studies that supposedly prove that global warming is man-made are being disproved by many reputable climatologists, then it behooves us as Catholics and children of God to do our homework to discover what the truth is. As the Holy Father points out, “the protection of creation is not principally a response to an aesthetic need, but much more to a moral need, in as much as nature expresses a plan of love and truth which is prior to us and comes from God.”
We cannot promulgate an environmentalism that is not based in scientific truth.
Mena Kramer
Cherry Hill