Comments from a discussion on Situating Laudato Si

At a recent gathering of concerned people interested in Laudato Si, the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis urging Care of our Common Home, the Earth, we commented on the video by Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM, entilled "Situating Laudato Si". The presentation situates the encyclical "Laudato Si" in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and Franciscan spirituality. The terms used in this description may be difficult language for people who are not familiar with Church history and terminology. Some who tend to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1.26 may find dissonance in the rejection of the Dominion Model in the presentation. The apprehension that Francis of Assisi teaching language of Sister and Mother in reference to the earth may invoke dismissal of the letter is countered by use of the language of Stewardship as used in Genesis 2. Patriarch Bartholomew is quoted in the presentation about the need for each of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet. Our individual actions need to be linked to efforts to bring the message of the need to change our ways as a society to the attention of politicians and business leaders. The apparent difficulty in communicating the message to leaders of society is evidenced by deep reluctance to change and results in frustration for the advocates of reform. A theme of the encyclical is a call for conversion and a new solidarity with people, nature and future generations. Solidarity with future generations had an important resonance in the discussion group. This problem facing the earth is not the concern of our politicians nor does it resonate with business. Perhaps stories of conversion may reduce the denial and fear of change and reluctance to face reality. One story about considering a change in the use palm branches in Christian Easter time liturgies may be a framework within which a visible change in local community policy points to the positive consequences of this action in the lives of the poor and the health of the planet.