Initiatives from Laudato Si and Covid 19

Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ urges us to let the Laudato Si encyclical of Pope Francis shape the way we think about the coronavirus crisis and find solutions to the fault lines it is highlighting.

Action points

How might Laudato si’ help us in a post-pandemic rebuilding?

First, let’s be clear – our objective should not be to go back to ‘business as usual’, reverting to the self-destructive, inhumane, unjust and unsustainable practices that used to be ‘normal’ until early 2020. Instead, Pope Francis says, let us regenerate new relationships, a new economy, a new society.

 Laudato si’ challenges the core drivers of unhealthy and destructive growth, proposing instead an inclusive, sustainable development that deserves the name ‘integral’. As for how to go about it, Laudato si’ gave enormous attention to dialogue as the utterly necessary foundation of positive action. The only approach to post-pandemic regeneration is dialogue, which means honestly involving all those who are concerned. 1

Young people are perhaps the ones who feel most affected by the environmental crisis...

Change required

Young people are right to feel totally outraged by the flagrant irresponsibility of all ‘those responsible’.

 These are not only decision-makers in commerce and politics, but also consumers and citizens who live a lifestyle based on the unsustainable exploitation of both people and the planet. Young people now see the planet as their essential locus of reverence and concern… The environmental crisis is getting worse every day; it is certainly even more serious now than it was five years ago, when Laudato si’ was published.1

Everyone, Christians and others, can try to improve our relationship with nature via the path of contemplation.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many are discovering that we can live on less. So we can continue consuming less, or choosing less-polluting products, or avoiding unnecessary, non-recyclable packaging. Instead of shopping without thinking about the moral and environmental consequences, our Catholic parishes, schools and centres can accept that ‘purchasing is always a moral – and not simply economic – act’ (Laudato si’ §206, quoting Caritas in Veritate).1 

We cannot love what we don’t even see; contemplative seeing can launch the journey of ecological conversion.

New relationships

Let us regenerate new relationships, a new economy, a new society through dialogue, involve young people, contemplate our relationship with nature and consume less.

References

1(2020, May 21). Co-creators of a better world | Thinking Faith: The online .... Retrieved June 5, 2020, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/co-creators-better-world