The Church and it's Role in the Fight Against Climate Change
This past week my Environment and Society class had the privilege of visiting St. Peter’s church in Plattsburgh NY, built in 1853. Our goal was to see how care for the environment is emphasized through the church and Bible as well as how churches across the world with the guidance of Pope Francis are using the church as a platform to encourage environmental stewardship. We met one of the Priests from St. Peters as well as Paul and Alice Scott who are involved in the churches Environmental Stewardship group. These individuals worked together to lead a tour of the church with us and hold discussions about our environment and its role in the church.
St. Peters church has used generously donated funds to make much needed improvements to the churches energy efficiency and sustainability. For example, they have added lights, replaced windows and are working towards even more goals for the church in the future. These steps, which save the church 40% in energy savings per year, show how churches are really embracing modernization and playing a hand in fighting environmental challenges. During our tour of the church we noticed the saints painted around the perimeter of the church. Each one represented a different patron saint, including Saint Francis of Assisi who was the patron saint of animals and ecology in Biblical teachings. St. Francis cared for the poor and sick, and preached sermons to animals, praising all creatures as brothers and sisters under God. Often when analyzing biblical text in an attempt to pick out environmental stewardship attitudes or actions you will find them connected to Saint Francis. Through our discussion I was able to analyze how the bible emits these attitudes and actions which I previously could not in my years of religious studies. The Bible can help show us human motives and feelings and why we disrespect the environment the way we do.
These same themes are expressed through Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’. In this second encyclical Pope Francis calls on followers of all religions to “broaden our examination of conscience, to reflect seriously on how we are living in communion, not only with God, others, and ourselves, but also with all creatures and nature as a whole. Breaking it down chapter by chapter we highlighted the main focuses. In Pope Francis’ appeal he states, “I will point to the intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet, the conviction that everything in the world is connected, the critique of new paradigms and forms of power derived from technology, the call to seek other ways of understanding the economy and progress, the value proper to each creature, the human meaning of ecology, the need for forthright and honest debate, the serious responsibility of international and local policy, the throwaway culture and the proposal of a new life”.
I was happy to learn this week about the movement and path Pope Francis is leading the Catholic church down, as climate change is a battle for everyone to fight. It’s important that institutions with power and influence whether it be investors, politicians, or the church use their platform to encourage people to care for our common home and support common sense policies and action to protect it for generations to come. St. Peter’s church right in our own city is doing just that and encouraging individuals of faith to start conversations on this once taboo topic in the church to make steps towards progress.