Kevin Kroll
wrote:
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Hi guys,
- Should all Catholics be Going Green?
- Are we all
called to love, protect, and be awe-stricken by the planet,
earth . . . I mean, could we ask for a more fascinating planet?
Kevin
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{
Since we have such a fascinating planet, should all Catholics be Going Green? }
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John replied:
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Kevin,
The book of Genesis tells us that man was given dominion over the environment.
In Genesis 2, Adam is told to keep and protect the Garden. From this, we
can deduce that man has a responsibility to act responsibly when balancing
technological progress and safeguarding the environment. This holds true
when it comes to natural resources such as water, fuel, and so forth. We
are also called to respect life itself: above all, human life, along
with the life of endangered species.
That said, we must be careful not to buy into every measure promoted by
radical environmentalists who see human life on the
same level as other
life. Moreover, we must look at their agenda and see if their claims are
rooted in genuine concern or is it a subterfuge to empower government to
the detriment of human freedom. I find it amazing that some of these people
care more about what happens to turtle eggs than they do about unborn children.
So yes, Catholics should be concerned about taking care of God's environment
but we don't have to buy into the hysteria that puts a greater value
on the environment than on the people; the environment that was created
to sustain the people.
Under His Mercy,
John DiMascio
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Kevin replied:
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Thanks for the answer.
I have one more question:
I am confused about what
is meant in this statement:
How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord?
Since, in seeking you, my God, I seek a happy life, let me seek you so that
my soul may live, for my body draws life from my soul and my soul draws life
from you. (St. Augustine, Conf. 10, 20: PL 32, 791.)
I found it here:
Catechism of the Catholic Church: II. The Desire for Happiness
- Is the person saying that, by pursuing God, they automatically pursue happiness,
or that the person is pursuing God for the wrong reason?
I also don't understand the part about drawing life from the person's soul or
God.
Kevin
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Eric replied:
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Hi, Kevin —
I believe it is saying that happiness comes from seeking God. If one seeks
God, then the soul lives. If the soul lives, the body will live, so by
seeking God, the body will live by means of the soul.
The soul draws its
life from God. So, the body draws life from the soul, and the soul draws
life from God. It's helpful to remember that the word animate comes
from the Latin word anima meaning soul; just as animation
gives life to dead cartoon characters, so the soul gives life to the body;
it animates it.
Likewise, without God, the soul would be dead.
Eric
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