Ecology

Faced with the widespread destruction of the environment, people everywhere are coming to understand that we cannot continue to use the goods of the earth as we have in the past. . . . [A] new ecological awareness is beginning to emerge. . . . The ecological crisis is a moral issue.- Pope John Paul II, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, 1, 15

The ancient human-Earth relationship must be recovered in a new context, in its mystical as well as in its physical functioning. There is need for awareness that the mountains and rivers and all living things, the sky and its sun and moon and clouds all constitute a healing, sustaining sacred presence for humans which they need as much for their psychic integrity as for their physical nourishment.
– Thomas Berry, CP,  Evening Thoughts, Reflecting on Earth as Sacred Community

In the recent decades Catholic social teaching has begun to identify ecological issues with the overall issues of social concern that are part of the teachings of the Church. In the Passionist Community, Fr. Thomas Berry, CP was a pioneer in the theological development of an ecological spirituality which would help us address the environmental issues that not only concern the Church but also the entire human family.

Fr. Thomas Berry passed away in June of 2009. There is now a foundation which archives the work that our brother Thomas did for the human family. Please visit the Thomas Berry foundation and access these wonderful resources:

The Passionist Earth and Spirit Center is a Passionist organization that develops programs centered on the Passionist ecological spirituality. Please visit the site for programmatic information as well as resources on this aspect of our spirituality.

Here is a one page pdf from the Earth and Spirit Center on simple Christian living techniques that can help you adopt some conscious steps for promoting the integrity of Creation: Download PDF