Integrity of Creation

Over the past years, we have come to realize that commitment to the integrity of creation must be at the heart of our work for justice and peace in the world today.

All creation is sacred; God, our creator, is revealed to us through creation. In fact, when we speak of the “integrity of creation” we acknowledge that we are part of the community of creation.

Jesus’ command “to love one’s neighbor” is not limited to other human beings; it extends to every facet of creation. We are called to live in a mutually life-enhancing relationship with all of creation in the spirit of integral ecology. It challenges us to ecological conversion: a new way of seeing, thinking and acting. Through the lenses of integral ecology the cry of the earth and the cry of poor is one cry because everything is deeply interconnected in the web of life.

Care for nature is part of a lifestyle which includes the capacity for living together and communion. Jesus reminded us that we have God as our common Father and that this makes us brothers and sisters. Fraternal love can only be gratuitous; it can never be a means of repaying others for what they have done or will do for us. That is why it is possible to love our enemies. This same gratuitousness inspires us to love and accept the wind, the sun and the clouds, even though we cannot control them. In this sense, we can speak of a ‘universal fraternity’. (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 228)

Resources

• Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si’” (Deutsch – English – Español – Italiano – Polski – Português)
• The Laudato Si’ Movement  (English, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português,) for climate facts, Catholic teaching, and ideas for action.
• Green Christian Link is a multi-denominational Christian organization for people concerned about the environment, providing numerous website links and resources from around the world.
• The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change with its Catholic Climate Covenant (English, Español) campaign provides resources on Catholic teaching and climate change and promotes participation of individuals and organizations for advocacy for climate
• The Earth Charter (English, Español) is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21^st
• Environmental news from Climate Alliance (Deutsch, English, Español), New Scientist, and Planet Ark
• European Commission (čeština, Deutsch, Español, Italiano, Magyar, Polski, Português, Slovenščina) provides up-to-date information on the state of the environment, policy initiatives and legislative
• Friends of the Earth International (English, Español) is a global network of environmental organizations that campaigns on the most urgent environmental and social
• United Nations Environment Programme (English, Español) provides leadership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future
• Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform is the work of the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development which provides leadership in promoting and coordinating implementation of the sustainable development agenda of the
• USG/UISG JPIC Commission Formation website has several resources in English and Spanish.
• Resources for marking special days: Earth Day on April 22, World Environment Day on June 5, and the Season of Creation (English, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português) which runs from September 1 to October 4.
• Sowing Hope for the Planet (English, Español, Italiano, Deutsch, Português)  promotes the integration of Laudato Si’ into the personal and communal lives of religious congregations.  It offers several resources on the engagement in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform for the Religious Life Sector.

Action

• Pray for the grace of conversion to live in right relationships with all
• Enjoy nature and contemplate the beauty and splendor of all God’s
• Learn what Catholic Social Teaching (English, Español, Hungarian, Italiano, Polish, Português, Swahili), other Christian denominations, such as the World Council of Churches (Deutsch, English, Español), and other faith traditions say about the integrity of creation and
• Read and discuss with others what the Popes and the Bishops’ Conference in your country or region have said about the integrity of creation, ecology, and climate
• Commemorate Earth Day on April 22, World Environment Day on June 5, and the Season of Creation which runs from September 1 to October 4.
• Commit to living simply and in a mutually life-enhancing manner.
• Advocate for the care of all creation.
• Act for the dignity and sustainability of all life.