As a Catholic, I am lucky to be a part of a faith tradition that recognizes that all of creation is a gift from God, and that we, as children of God, have a responsibility to care for the earth and all of its creatures.In these days after the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, we remind our fellow citizens, and the corporations who exert power and control over our natural resources, of this God-given mandate to respect and care for all of creation.

Modern humanity in its attitude of domination and disregard for the integrity and interconnectedness of life on this planet has become a threat to our survival. As a society we must stop the steady erosion our air, water and earth. We are at a point where our human actions threaten our planet and the other creatures who share the earth with us, in ways that were not possible 50 or 60 years ago. For the first time in history, human beings are capable of causing violent and irreversible destruction to the major life systems of the world.
The solution to these problems caused by humans can also be implemented by humans. We must recognize that humanity’s exploitation and abuse of nature is intimately related to the way we treat our fellow citizens of the earth. A solution to our environmental problems is therefore interconnected to our ability to find solutions to the problems of social oppression, inequality and injustice.

I believe that peace, justice and the integrity of creation are profoundly connected. Unless we can maintain and restore the ecological health of the planet, the poor cannot be fed, the sick cannot be healed, and the inalienable human rights that belong to all people will be violated with impunity.

As the UN World Charter on Nature states, “every form of life is unique, regardless of its worth to humans.” We must take steps to ensure the continued integrity of our ecosystems, in order to protect these unique lives and life forms, and we must put the rights of living breathing human beings above the interests of profit driven corporations.