!.:r. - i-,-.,:.r.=.

Crurrrn

[nrironrnontnl $thics

A [trRoDucnoil
During the l0th WorldYouth Dayhdd in lv{anila' Philippines, the youth, gathered at rhe Universiry of Santo Tomas, declared the following:
Manifesto on Ecological Batancc WHEREAS, we, the youth of rhe Prescnt generation though coming from the different pam of the PhilipPines and of the world, ioin our hearrs and minds rogether, freeci irom the bondage ofour respecdve culrural and narional boundaries, in order ro proclaim to the wholc world our un$?\'cring commitmenr to JESLS CHRIST and His teachings through thc inspirarion of His Vicar' PopcJohn Paul II'
Tirdal"
r,*'c

. '

live ourselves, togedrer,

tor,t'ards a ncw level of awareness and consciousness

in active and responsive panicipation in shaping our history: in the socio-economic,

pai ;J,

environmenral and moral dimensionsofourlives'

:,. ... .

.....1-".-.-a.....a

- . l:..:

j :i-r.jlj'&iIt:;,i:L

TAsett

t otffi:-

S{dAI

fr#Eafiis't

who \TE BELIEVE IN GOD THE FAIHER

creatcd all

\r- ;;Aat

thar is good

*s;;a according * Hitl-"gt *1t11t:t:: shall #,t;.;,r;;Lvn;'[" as His *l*'d ones' r*'eEarth' our Mother
:"t,'o il;"il;i""i"iv.gi"'animals' f,.r for.sts, waters' air' the
CHRISI
\UE BELIEVE IN JESUS
and Resurrection
the Onlv Begoncn Son

our human dlqniy is nothing

less

than be-

We RESOLVE to check and stop all fellow humans Who desecrate our Mother Earth and destrov our resources for power and greed. lfe shdl appeal to their conscience to ioin us In respecring and cherishing NATURE AS IT IS Not merely what ir is &'r" We SEEK the hearts of aur lao"makers and law enforcers to deal widr }{ATL"RE more responsibly and resolutely. Ve appeal to all religious. civic, and fellow yourh grouPs to become morc e1'angelicallv visible and united in the

own Lifc' Dcarh' Who for love savedus all through His

bY Him from the Thus, we RESOLYE' that as reileemed bondage ofsin, and anYone to enltr(/'e too, shall seek not ro allow anPhing
siave us again'

pursuit

of

ccological balance-

\tre RESOLVE that this ir.{anifesro be acted upon from here and now ro wherebv we go and be wirh. AMEN-I

\fE BEUEVE -' -*

The Love

rt'ho makes IN THE HOLY SPIRIT' the One the Son' t oty close to the Fathcr and beUo"a"a wirh our fellow human that keeps

This Manifesto on Ecologicd Balance was meant to

way of life of this generation. The condnuing dilemma of our ecology is alarming. But nothing can be changed unless we are ethically guided in our reiationship with the environment. "fhus, we need to discuss environmenrd efiics. become
a

ings and other creatures' life-partakers susrained O: Thus, we RESOI-YE, the bdance ot our Holy Spirit, we work as one towards

th""'

L:

ecolop" iustice, Peace, ProsPertry'

B. IHVIROHMEI{TA. fiHICS

CFiL.I(CH' WE BELIE\T,IN THE HOLY CATHOLIL

the BodY of Christ on earth' t#ho guides us in our faith and moral development' Fler Tcachings RESOLIT' rhar we shall abide by

fh;:*.

faithftrl to Her' and seek to live more and more

t'orthv ior our \fle RESOLVE to help build a world

.\V.e

childreni children to live in' waters cira;rt rhe iorrsts RESOLIT, tc keep rhe air and to grow and bloorn: the and plaais with enough sPace ,rri*dr' and spare fiem fiom extinction'

Eihics: a phiiosophic* r3.iscipiine ' which deals with the study of standards of ccnduct and moral iudgment. Applied to environment, ir is called Enr-ironmenml Erhics' In environrnental ethics, the scope goes ber-or":ci the usual moral understending of human being, if the huma-.t being is considered to be at the center of creation. it rneans tbr rhe humans ro relate hurnanely with rhe environment, Thi-' rciationship is established in accordance to horv human be lng: prrceire rhe e nvironment and how
lre perceives his

ot'n sta$c{ is;,'l'itir ir'

Ethicel issue involt'es hindamentaliy, the human values, principles and norms governing rnani conduct in the society wiil be at stake. There xsq ualues that spring from rnan'.s relationship wirh his environmenr, such as:

290

l:i.+,rit:r.ir:ii.:n::ji.kr,id:f:r:d:6lri1;:jEi"iP..,.dj;i:,aj:,;:*.kdt&|iEf# Fryr.,.,e!

n;?$a$deosoclat

''- ' ''

mory*

moraliry qf mutual interests The rolc of prudcncc and ethics wants to Pursuc)' Dt'r.v-

1,

.,

- ;

-t

tI

the precautionaryirneasures provided by governments lnd

pri-

*it.['..',tlon*.nol br*d J;inra".r norrns, principles,

and rcgularions'

1.

C;;;;"*dcthics-rl'eit"rtrofcthicalthoughtis say thac n person

Etrects of deforestation, mainly soil erosion instant floods and drought

Ie#ing

to

ffi[;;;oi
bcnefit-

;:;;t

invoh'ed' Murual interests .tl"i!i moraliry becausc aii J.n

2.

".*i"

Globdwarmingcausedbyhigh conccntration ofgreenho,se gases' irith.

iindicon'eque"ce of our actions Issuc oi unintendcd

rest

t'g'fte desire.to have advanced sciof the benefits (n'e ought ence and i;;bs'ieqruse e'g'
voluntaryl"t)

3. The large-scale depletion of non-renewable energy resources, endangered by consumcrism, which could jcopardize the qualiry of life, also, of the futurc gcaerations. 4. The accumulation

"t*orphIr."

the unfcresecn cffecrs) to bc resPamible ien^for and rhe n*t war*i"g' tht effecr on other being:

of roxic rnaterials in the etmo-

J;l

sphere, rivers, lakes, sea and land caused by inadequate

generarions'

.rp"Ut.-oi p""iuing

1'-:-::-T1',:' legidmate actton' ujuing *"J totoponding

not only on rhe viovs one rs Ethical responsibiiity lies Proper but

and at times non-existent effluent treetr$ent inchemi-

;"'*ent'

cd plants
5.

cE[{V|R0NHE$TAI.ETHESANDRESP0NS|BIIIIIES:SoHEvlErvs more knowledgeable about the No',r'adevs Peoplc arc nni*ae of the universe' There are rhose

The deadly radietion emanadng from leaks and poor disposal facilities of atomic poyrer plants erposing populadons to the risk of contracting csncer or gnetic defects.
The conaminadon of lruim and vegetables by dr indiscriminate use ofpesticides and the long-term desructien of fenile land by encessive use of chemicai fenilirrs; The displacement oipopuLarions engendereci by megaprojecrs such as the buiiding of darns, the excavation of mines, the constructions of highways and thc leying of new railway iines.

,i.it""*' *i'f" caconsidcr thc earth as a spaceship,"-irh-1'n" -.,ltn;'i;rllv has limited resources and-sherefore"
elobd

6.

--L:l;.;.. r,,, .r.in'iral but

PJU:::!''

these resources accordingiv' inhebrtents must u5 This visrv conrraconsidcr the earth as a lifeboat'

\thiie

d:ere

7.

;;;;

lifeboat' to assume equal distriburion'is dicts the orher' trn a *"*ta fo' the few' Having more than the unre.rlisric' Sp*tu i' qt'oti""' shall we share r:ur resources? tlw rvili be tiissuous' resources like oil' mineral' Horv limited "o *u'not-rescrvable *;;;f of eht Ttfii .Is ir population explo' crc.? \\hat i, ,ht of wealfi that lea& io Pcve iqr sian or thc uniusr ii't'ilt'don ? rnd cological i n'rbdancc'
D. Eil$ROil*IEilTAT CRISIS

who

sis.

The follorving are merely the symptoms of ecologici criTheir root causes are rhe following:
Flurman greed leadinS to uncontrollable consumerlsm.

. '

Ignorance of ecological issues and lack of appreciarion and valuing of the life-suppon systems of the earrhAbject poverty of large sections of the popuiation-There the firrurc of their chi.ldren ar poar people who to feed them today.

notes that as contlnues t' Millcnnium, our tco-svstem

s'e

1e-?:.:T'":?:;:ilI:*Hil

292

rmt

ar*tSzn

X*l

lt'tvs{g7,f,llt'

:. --..1-'=. '-

.. 'dt6ttrnr,s5rallEElks.*r' l*--rI

' '

E. VIETwS

Oil EI{VlR0}lttEt{TAl RESP0I{$B|UflES

Coming to terms with chc various perspectivcs on cnvironmental resfinsibilities will hopefully lead us to bccoming
solurions.

rnore discerning in our approach to more effective and cfficient

Things rhar are direcred to cenain ends (or teleological, i"e.,everphing rnoves rowards an end). Thereforel rhe non-humans are necessarily to be d.irecred. Thcir end cannot be ser apart from the one rhat moves thern. cornpletion of rhe whole. Mrile others (non-principal parrs) are required only for rhe beterment of the whole. He furrher argued from *le ccurse of nature: Ir seems ro be narural for rhe inrellecual substance to use rhe other for is own sake in order to perfect his intellect, execudon, and developmene of his knowledge. Thus, non-humans are subject to humans. He.objects to cruelry to other beings because it might lead rc cruelry to humans. So thaiif in anyway, ii is good for man- cruelry may be accepred.
6REAT

Thomas argued rhat principd parts are required for the

L ArffiffiP}tgtttBsx ts A Pr//ttas0Pttttil. trffffirNP

Some environmentalists point to anthropocenrric perof spective as an issue to conrend with. It speals of thc anirude ti. ,opor,.ibiliry towards neture. Ethical principlcs:re apptied only to humans. Human interests rank highest' This.Trr b' raced raced baclc to thc so-cdled Default &hics: i.e. ethics asis in sumed without carefi'rl deliberadon. But now the chdlengc reiation to orher beings. Anthropocentrisrn can be categorizrd

, '

into srong and *eak- Strong anthropocentrism advocats that non-humans are valuable only because *rey fulfill human needs. \flhile weak anthropocentrism speaks on"ty of rhose well-considered preferenccs based on very carefirl deliberarion'
Prop0nen6 of Antnropocentrlsm
1.

fiIAIII

OF BEIBCS

<I Thomx
-{quinas' Anthropocenrrism:

Cod

.q_- Angels

* +

l-lu::,1', b':in3 ls rhe highest cf aJl crearures"

Th.is is so because heshe is the lmago Dei' hc has rhe spirit thar gives him rationaJin'

fu

such'

' .((

Man Animals Plants

inanirnate Beings

perccption ofzuperioriqy ofrhe man camc from fuisode's Great Chain of Beings (See figure t plasei' Ther fore man can raake use of lower beingp for his sakc' fu such: Thomas

\uinas'

. I.2 Modern Arrhropocenrrism tq"*

by Teilhard de Cl:ardin.

.Humanbeinghasdominionoverhisacrions'Thisal.oo
mans

,Irt

a I-roral agent who

is the

human being shc'rld

be respwnsibtc for rlie non-inteliecxral crcetures r'r'hich are incapable o[taking care ofthesrselves'
Hurnaan ere lrce
desrinr'.

human lile a.s parr of lifi. 1r rrrs a5 Part ot tlre rrr ydrdur6rrr L;.rr .rc: caregQrlzeo 'His paradigm can be caregorized as inrerrelatedness of iife. F-{. lnrerre.ratedness F-{e of cosmogenasis as a srase which mears the beginnings lgs of the existence oi$ingp and from.*f ich flow biiogenesi.s,

Teilhard de Chardin considers

iif!

in his actions. They

can shape rheir

rnoued

Vtcreas olher creatures a'e necessarily

by ar":orher to act.
294

The higher Ievei is what he cails enthropogenesis or rhe socializarion p<linr of rife, i.e. arso iino*.n as the point of unirr- of all lifu but which dcres nor enr_l jn irscli,
sers in.
295
.d

life

.r cerebrarion

rv"here

Rar-trer, life is said to experience tullness in Christogenesis where

the whole world become one (Plcase see diagram below)

in Chrisr thtough the

Parousia.

a sraremenr of rhe way in yhich !e, i'naginadvels as a tions of the christian reveration *orkirg;r in rhe sort ofcosmos science now lcnows we inhabic a".wsrld,, whieh h. ;;-

His vision of dre plerorna was

** "fi"r*;;ffi, ;;";L::

Cosrnoqenesis

Bloaenesb

Anthr"oreen*
Socialization gt.

Cfrffioqnesis

2.irtrEMn$il
Church. Christ
is

.ll

Life
Principles of Expansion

s
Expansion

s
Onty mafi knolArs

the ornega pt.

that he has

Axis of evolution We becorne

s
Compression Organization

s
Compressicn Organization

knowledge

$
Noosphere Natural Selection stops ard goes to
anatomy.

incorpmated to Christ thru the

Church

man valucs

not depcndenr on human preferences o, The nanrral world has an inherent rralue "**ro-*ntered ethic" o, ou*h. Lngically, <vE wr/'

it

because rhey has

wonh_

2.1 LAND ETHIC:, Aldo leopold is considcred farlrer

Iand

s s

s s

n \,

etlic. He presents

+
The worH ought become one

.
to

rhe

followinf Urri. o"rr*prions:

of

Human beingp have erhical responsibiliry

Unfinished

Cerebration. {Life springs

o lnvention takes
the breaks of
Eroluticn.
Socialization (unity) (Expansion of the

' l.*ing is righr when.ir tends to preservc lntegriry, srabiliry and bcaury of rhe bi",i.."*_"niry. his;;r"; whcn ir
rends orherwise.

iorth)

with Chr"ist.

kopcld's Ethics is a
Process rhat involves relarionship ro

&
PLEROMA PAROUSIA

noosohere) SiEns: scientific progress technoiogy and ccrnmunication

ery and ro environment. It ship or is inrerdependenr

p....iro

indiyidual, to socisymirioric relarion_

In Iand erhic, this communiry is expande*I. l:nd is nor merely soil. Man is nor a conqueror. Ir i*rcnds ro reach harmony" Conservarion is and land"
a

:he ulira-human
EnC

of which

is #

srate

of harmony berween man

.
tilhardi laith is' "things unseen'
cennot be separated from his enthusiasm for the boldest and most advanced specularion regardine rhe scie nrificdly unifiable or yet verifiable. For him
being i!,r'irrl-', the universe is'convergent,'yet as his life showed' his faith was the driving fcrrce in what he did from the very begin-

other crearures as rnembers of rlre spnbiotic corn_ muniry and rherefore ro mainain srabiiiry, musr also claim for exisrence.

Yalues

'

Bioric mechanism is ro preserve rhe balanes of narure.

i
296

ning. Fairh can neither be proved nnr disproved by scientific.explcl"tior,. But Teithard's faith is a fact which is verifiable to all''

LAfiD PY*A*IID

4'

6rF

:: .l:iti::'*::-.::li j;;:i ilijlikHar trtrrrrvttd AtIr$-

( < <
+-

Man

rDre

I[.T'*:,:nl"B "r.h.y*rn life and .,,,r,., wtth a subsranrialiy smailer

is compar

Carnivores

flourishing of non-hJman Iife popularion

human popularion.

*lrir.r'r*"Uer

the

human

4-- Birds, rodents hyer 4-* lnsects layer

Aants
S?il

$r

5.

Presenthuman inrerference with the non_human world is excessive and rhe siruation is rapidlyrnorsening. Policies therefore musr be changed. These policies ai fect basic economic technologij ,r,a iJ"ofogical srructures. The resuldng srare of"k irs will be a.Jpiy aifl-..ent from the presenr.
ghange will be mainly rhar ofappreciarqualiry (drvelling in siruarions of i"h*r#;;

6.

2.2 DELP ECOLOGYT6

Deep ecologr is a philosophical orienation orEcosophy. deep quEstioning of the vaiues/ lifesryles, like: what are the underlf ing causes cf environmental problems? It came

7. 3: jj*l"fcal inglifi

It involves

about as reaction to shallow ecology advocated by some environmentalisrs rvirh shorr term solurions to rhe problem. Rejecrion of "man-in-the-environment" image in favor of e relational total field image (Holism). E.g. Organism A & B are increasingly related. To destrov rhe relation is ro desroy A as A and B as B. To deep ecoloer-ihe root cause o[the environmental crisis is the human beine" his values and life sryle. Its proponent is the Nonvegian l-rne Xaess.

8.

difference berween bigness arrd gre*ur.sr. Those who subscribe ro rhe foregoing
necessaqF changes.

ra*rer than adhering ,oL increasingly higher r,"rrJ*ri of living. There *itt l* a profound awareness

of

rhe

obligarion directly or indirectly ro rry ro implemenr rhc

poin*

have an

5. 8 I CICEf{n E EiAUTAR ts Uil

tf
a.r ri"rc

The EIGHT POINTS OF DEEP ECOLOGY do not reiecr totallv h urr,;n i;rrcrtirence:

bcing and t'lourishing oflhuman and non-hu'.'eli man life i:n Earth have vaiue in thernselves (syn. Inrinsic values or inherent rvorrh)" These values are independent of thr usefiulness of the non-human world for human Puryose)'

The

2. 3.

fuches an"l .l."ersiw of life forms contrihute tc the realization oithese vatrues and are values in thennselves.

Humans har"r no rigl'it to reduce this richness and diversin'except to satisfy vital needs.

rnoral universe.

ur..r.rr.d on rhenr. Their well-being as well as hurnan ,*ff-U.irgt ,r. ,u bc rralized as ends in rheirselfl Thuc, ro accepr a life-cenrered rheory af *nvir.nmenral erhics is ro allow,

inherent worth rhat rhese obligarions

good for rh.i, urk"of narural ecos)rsterns, ro.preserve cndangered species und ,o avoid environmental pollurion in order ro help rhem maineain healii.ry ex_ istence in a narura! srare. ir is because of rhe Humans have rhe duties ro respectf.r"

of ttrre Earth's biotic communin. Humans are morally bound to prorecr or promore rheir {non_humans)

ones who have morai obligarions ro non-humans as rnembers

A life-cenrered sysrem of environmenral erhics is opposed to the human cenrr-red one" Il looks ar humans

i"r"g.i*

non_humans,

profourrJ;;;;'"j';;

.*?

:..-...t:.:!i11.:.:.!.-:.-r.!ijirji,::,:ii,-..jr:.:.i::-.-\::l{..:!j;:jr.-:;tj-rils*$-ri.l-aiilli..-.::j

.-.::.-:

,-.-:..:.-,1'.,.,-,,'.-.=.:.'sr.r:i_;.r-1+

rr#;:{ t,;:i..,:',lj*.,i;oL]B}l@S#5*d::;{iiifs

\(hat would' justifr acceptance of a life-centered system are essential to the of ethical principles?The iollo*ing concePrs
raking of this moral auitude: 3.1 The good

of a living thing

poss.stit g an inherent that an entiry has a good of in oun sto reference to a$Y other entitY'

idea "S *" comments: worth" Thylor

say

of an enriry

to say that without

cornmunin' of life, dre reaiizarion of its good is somerhing intrinsicaliy tduable . This means rhat im good is prima facie worth of being preserved or promoced as an end in itself and for rhc sake ef rhe enriry whose good ir is. The well being ofeach is judged to have value in and oiitselfl,

in.rhe S(hat irgood for an entity is wbat.daes it.gao( well being' **rrr. of Joh"rrcing or presirving its life and

The good of an individual non-human organism ,iuu in the full dwelopment of its bioiogical Portrs' of inThe average good of a population or communiry to maindivid:rals t*it" in the eornmuniry's capaciry optimum an tain itself genetically and ecologicaliy at level for the given environment' interest in what Does not entail thai beings must mke
affects its life.

con-

with The concept of a beingt good is not coextensive pain' sentience or the capaciry for feeling the rnoral anitude of 3.2 The second concePt essendal to w1*h' O': respect tc natLrre is *'e good of inh.lmt

when and onlv that attirude toward *ild li'ittg things inhercnt when r*'e regard them as entities possessing worth. inhere nt worrh An enriry has a good if its own possessing

'-1'

involvesl

world: RESPECT FOR NATURE. To adopr the attitude of respecr for narure as an ulrimare moral amirude i: ro make a commisrnent ro live by cerrain normarive principles" An ulrimare commirmenr because ir is not derived from any higher norm. The commirmrnr is a morai one because ir is undersro.r"J ro be a disinrerested marrer cfpiinciple. Love of nature Cirlirs ti+::: respeci for i:siure. Respect for narure is an ardtude we believe all morai agenrs oughr ro have simplv as moral agen$. Akhough rhe arrirude of respecr for narure is in rhis sense disinreresred and unrealizablc ardrude, anFonr lu-ho does adapr ir has certain srrady, more or less permanent disposirions.e

?hot It l*ogsesses lnhernt wortil l$ trl ca, th6t ltg wonh? Taylor posnrlares rhar when gOod lg degerstng Ef ehe rational, auronomGus agents sub- coneerm mgl consleer$tl8n scriberor}reprinciplesofmoralcon- @f cI! mor6i asen*s 3srrd sideradon and inrrinsic value and thct the reltttrilsn $f its conceiveofwild livingthings as hav- good has lrttdngls uulua ts ing rhar kind oiworrh, such agents be pUrgUed Gg En emd trn ltare adopting a ce$ain ultimate Se# Ond fer tlfe S31ge Of he moral attirudc roward rhe rarural enfiry 1phqre ggOC lt ag.s
ral world as possessing inherent

Why should moral agcnrs regard wild living rhings in rhe naru-

3.2.1 PRINCIPLE OF MORAL CONSIDERATION *ild tit'1"5 things are deserving of

' .

ir"ld,

the concern and consicieracion of all moral'gtl: in virque of r}eir being members of the Eanh's

*'1 L

The logical conr:eerion ber,*'een the arirude of respect fcr nature ar:d dre duries of e iifc-centered rysrem of environmen-.al cdrics can now be made cleac
Insofar as onc sincerely rakes rhar artirude and so has dis$sirions, onc *ill ar rhc same rime he disas

communiry of life'
\TALUE 3.2.2 The PRINCIPLE OF INTRIIjSIC o"g*'dlt*' ciwhar kind of endrr ic'b urr,*, 'ini if ir is a member of the Eaffht in other

rhe rhree sets of

posed

to comply r*-irh cerrain rules of dury (such

'"'ptlt',

nonmaieficence anC ncrrinceference) and wir} srandards r:fcharacter (such x fairness and benevolence) rhar determine rhe cb501

500

;&.

glr.E uall *ta:

il

t*iet

tt tl

ligarions and virrues of morar agenrs wirh regard ro the Eartir's wild living rhings.
F" CHRISTIAN WAY OF ADDEESSITTG EFiVIRONMENTAI. PROBI.EM

;::?,,T,,:;::
sacred scriprures clearly expressed the artinrde of Gocl for crearion, i.e., all crated gocds are presenr to rhe humans so

The Catechism of the Catholic Church deats wirh the rhe

i'

;;;,**,,d*,,,.
o,, LLi*d

r,

quarises

,?J.f uilna
fee

:"T*:
.rer

flTfi# isi",;

thar rhey may respecr and use them (orher crearures) for the
purpose rhey were creared.

;::::H:::11::f"o

i:,Hl]Fffi ,[ k ;;;$,il ;ffi il",#.lil"#:;X

orcrearion,
rhe-

;x

by od:er reiisious

The Church has d"re dury ro preserve nor only the right and digniry of huma-n beings bur also rle integriry of creation * rhis being from God as well. Varican Council II strengthens this posirion of the church: Frr man, reawd to God\ image, receiied s mandate to

The C_atechism.for

tne rrnpcnance cf crearion ,o

tha{it rcntdins and to gowro us rI cE AN D H o LINESS.T o rle ultimale reason for rhis act ofsubjecting crearion to human managernenr is for the glorificarion of God and nor a license for ablive and desrructive rendencies of man. That is why, christdre model of chrisrians, obryed evrn at the rcst ofdeath and was fi:errfors raised u|t b1 tbe Father (cf Phil z:8-9). Thus r{c enterer! intu ihe gtory of His Kingdom. Tb Him all tbings are made subjcctuntir Helubiects Himselfand allcrearcd things to the Father thar God ntay b, itt in alt (cf t Cor. 15:2f-28).tl
t h e u o rltl ut i tlt J

subirct to himself the eartb and all

:l:::ly promise to be with ; ;;;f #*Tffi urearors Hi; **;;;. l. The mosr striking is the sense ro .*pt*., furde,, of Godir J"i*}. ativiry as going on nory. (c[
euerydring else...-In

,#:l;.*U:"::,'*":"; dil:*_.T*;,r,ffi ;ffi #ff"*x*y,"**& .n doi,,op",,ibiri.r

'cails inro

Filipino Catholics expqrrxls rln hu_.*;.e in rhe firsr aride i'i'. p.*,*,,,.d drc per-

#;;

b.ire'1o1..*1r* *A.:InT.d Our.Crcator not been* ffr,rn_ 4:tT). He is rh! G..t -*h";,"*ji

CCCjOl,).

;: ff:x; ji.i

H,* ;; li;*o
;

iA

r' : '.?!! urng rernain, *jy you wilied ir nor been carred 6nh;.

:'' i ; fi :*'I:: :,1';*::.r*:; ir;;rL prcserved,

i;;
i{;:.,r
Irad

)1,_,, :irt,;

;;*,:nar

and breathend ,ro.,* a*d luve aspea of,

r: 25.)

' *#'Ii [n"*::ension.is rcsponsibirity wirtr :tri*j*:T,Fffi ,trJ:ffi.*,f r_:fr*

ing on {Jniuenel

ritv afcrcador,

Js). ARIISHIP over

". causr u.e are reallv responsibie tbr ail. {PCP sRs

sooor

[i:il.L*t $Hl';r qH' r f ti: Jffi

I
i.

aTf:::^E
;

rganizing force' [-Isins PCPII's Earthl-i Gooi'and the

tJ;

lolr-n'

T3;; X,

*.;;" I

:"r[:f ::;ffi :*:::

responriblc
errer-

altl3-l-.tcisea srewardship is ctearron. Such

u 295; d srEw-

jj3

:i

3&3

,tf llr

*&

...:ti.-:

.-"!,.. :li,:,..=-Et.

l.:*;."....,

fasetfi

chdsfren

s6lal lnvdvefirefit

I , , I l , i ; 1, .

5/re@,treEr On drc strucrural level,

a

cised in our daiiv activities, which we can rightfullv con-

tider

prolongadon of Cods continuing work of crcati*g, and a service to our flllow human beingp'

3.

A third characterisric cf rhe Christian doctrine on creation is the Creator's promise to be with His crEaturrs' Agrinst all deep-ser f.*"s a"d anxieties besening us all' our loving Crearor offers us: a hope of uldmate fury

profi*. Rather, ir is pcople c!apor*:

veloprnenr is nor merely rhe visibie signs of high rises, long bridges, -'noimous producrion, and ecsraric

de_

ARd CGFA.

ilot$?e !g gur eomtrsrml$m th3tt desesues *ut fiEf3sa*

B

erment, preservarion and consenarion of narurc.

l.

*ent of aJl our 1'earninp; basic vision or Perern of the taadt-e importance of things, so we can order our lives
accordinglp and a promise of inner strength and peace

of scul unifring our lives.

potential arc for profit.

d;xz$l*-fi, tht advironme* utill continn, ,i lnug * thc e*t"t* ani is

seen

incuitably xpased tu serio*r enuiranm'end Au*ugr, coweqernt harzn ,o.l:aman hringt" Bktant

il in his \overnb*r, I 999 visir to New Delhi, India re-emphasized rhe need foo ,*rporrrlUt* reladonship wirh rirc cnvironmen t, "Wen rr;r;i; ecoromfu cnC ftshTlslsgicdl pragres i, ort a**o*pari;rd rancy-n-fo, the balircc iyrir *roryrrr*, @arafth;s V
Pope John Paul

;J

mrell

corL*nmpkn, to be manipwhted by an unbriCled dasirc

objert $,immedia*

use

a*d

On dre ?"2nd year of his pon rificats tre ernphasizes *. . . tlse dury afcbisians and ofalr u,bo !aa* ro God as **r crear*r to ?rotect ilte enairontnent b7 restoring a sense af rdreredce for the.u,lz*k of God,t e.rsrion. h is ie Crrn*)i will tbat rn*n sbeuU firat 447i17s noi ts s ntt*bx explaitcr &at ds a n i n til ig<nt a nd res, o rtsi b le adrn i n t ; rratan.
2"

FABC-O ESC i Federa

ri

c.,

Office for Edusdon

0. T0WARA A ffrOfiE BAI.AI',CED Ee0t06Y

n o i.{s ia-.l B * hops, Conferences_

anei Srudenr

(:haplainqf) sugsesrs:

Jo continue clur {onsurr}erisdc tiit sryle and coionial erri' is rucle rhat the earth is dre erernal suppiier of our marerial needs to die rvithour hope c,f resurrecdon. it is imperaiit'e' rhercforc
changr *ur rnindsets and anirudes rorvard nerure' \arure is orrr eonrp;nir-',n thar desen'es our respfcr and care. 1o rec,:gnize rhe urgencl'of u"lri*g our ent'jronmenral crisis is also to chenge ,r,r. ,i*d.oranding oF cenain terms' lil6 deveiopn"rertt. Dcvcloi:menr is not exclusivetrv marerial progre$k means gro*lh rxs a [otal human person and of ali Persorls'
thar
u,'e 504

?.1 Susrdnable der-eicpmenr * a rlevelcprnenr rhar is Lrased on people empoi'rrme nt rnd ,ror rrl rJre capi_ ralis* or rhose r*.ho har.e accumtlated all rh* *urrr ro conrrol prcducrion.

2.f Srrengrh of lcgislauon ro legiririiarely pursue pro.

grarns ofacrions tor rhe care fE:r rrryironmenr as regu_ Iates peaple's use and sancrion al;rJSe.

2.3 Integrarlon

of faith and sci.r,{:e-rechnology ro ground rhe frame of acrions rh+l rvill keep people more environmenrally responsi i:,le. This pandigm

raweds cfittsfren

sdal ttledwfiefit

of God as Crearor, trusting in His Presence and contemplaring rhe beaury of His crearion. This changes the concept of man from masrer of creadon ro srervard *'irh rhe responsibiliw for rhe well beine of creadon. Furthermore, rhe FABC encourags rhc use of science
and technology for the service ofhumaniry.and protection of fragilc eco-sysrems

emphasizes acknowledgrnent

srrerrgrlren<i

ence of rhe lov, ", the passion,

rm*mm*

::f,::

:i::,f.=,:iu;": af li] fr::',':s :^**. *" *.,,.ra 1,**.:rcd .,8;:; ;: wiII rlmaia aai.iri.s.
dynamics ,... "Using confronted "f ," !ereb.r,

:i

*."rri. l;.r"":.1

':l: " D;'i.';.i.j wounds or, rr;;;l=*-*,

SuJ %

:::"iff;' ##ffi our ]}rothe; ;;;il'rr** rres ri il;;;;T

2.4 Active promotion ofaurhendc human development thar refers to rhe right relatiorxhip ofa person w.ich

ourrairhandtover".":y:ri:I,,T:;LTJ##,.,T,,ffi
tlre
effectiveiy,

God, with Narure and Society. 'peoples or nations

have a righr ro their fi.rll development which, rvhile

including rhe economic and social aspecs should alsc include indi.ridual culrures, identiry and openness to the Transcendent.'to
3. Carholic Bishops' Conference

: l*rr;;;;, judse act, *;i;; l;il-,:,see, rve qrn avenue whereby efficiendva^.r.Ji; j::-:rc

'#trffit
I

prot".tior,

;-;;;:i#"0ff:nicuslv

beco*. np*.lo 6r rh.

l.

of rhe philippines

In rheir Pasroral Lerter entitled, What are Ve Doing to our Bcautifal Land? Our Bishops remind us ro rerurn ,o ih. original: the vision of crearion. This vision should be rhe foundation of developmenr and progress. To wir:
'We u,il/ not be turcessfu! in our ffins rc datht ncw attimdc rcu,,zrris iht natura! ,ror!.d-rrlt* !t. L;r.':*_.tained and nouyiihed h a ncra uision. Thit r.,i:ion ryu:r blossom fbrth fom cur undtrstanding af the u,arb: ,z: God intendt b7 loohing at hou' Goi originallyfashioned our u,orL!
and laid ir oar befare
us.

2.

tngs aroked by such siruarion. h rng off senses ro "lsoL."ns heighten_ discover oi," undltiin*

wl,o.-L-- r :i[;5 lxt:,:::.:l J:#mH:ffi: ,11.i,

rfryr.rzing

Srage of Sering: Srao"

I
I I

,*lrr,*.

:s,*li;i*#r,lli;xi::t['.:;:il*
resrarron of God s nRar!6ss1 from rhe devil's maneuverings.

ilifi:,:I';:'r*
*
d
g

,1,:t:

andJudging: This is the crirical root-

":o*''*

ii;;;'

tu,.r,.,,.*-

r::::

:.i:. *I1 ::i ::lJ# :],::fr::xffili

d.c.ir6rl
reflection, Pravct 1nd d;:':: lt'q"'alignecl t, the *o'**Jo' o:'h i:

tclls

crcatilr$ ro liuc in. {Gen. l: }-2:4) and rhct Hc bas gira us thc rash of bdng ;tewar& af creation. {Gca. 2: I g-201

faith. Tfu gib;t us that Gol scated thk beautifui world for all Hs
This ukion is ako grounded

in

our

3.

proceeds

.rG"J;;ffiJ'::: -l-llu:ons to

Transformarir-e .{r we seek rneans

perience
H. OISCOVERIITc AITD PROffiOilffC ECOLOCICAT SPIf,ITUAi.ITY

rfi e p'rl:le*, n ir rt*g; rro*,1i. of Lcur' Ir is rhe do{ *nuor'l*sicrrnation

an on going

The rask of heding rhe rvounds o[ a-nd resroring rhe beaury and bo*ry oflour Morher Eanh direcrly lies in our hen,j"s. Howevcr, unless we a-re deeply founded on our personal experi-

Iy;;ti*ff ;:{_Ti,gT;}",;ilT,:Xilll, Or*or ,1,"..Ar",

,1Jr,3.
O_*
ro a higher
r.

ju.i8,ng,rnd acting and fl:l :t'*,.r8; kind r hrs rs a spiral 1i,res on and on.
since,

creveropmen,,"-']l''"' Is nor meant

or deve' rlpmen

lor nnly one

person,

l: .1'*ii&i;#r;r";i$?iuiyiiH}gg*:g"lgiffiik;:is!&*ir,ri#$3x#Eitnrr:iriiuiE*$.:e:**ts!u'ie+!!err.edaq:*1:!-E

tf

d66|j,,E[ens0rrhltntr*wwt

we

"- :" -- . , , -- r- .Li. rurv rrl(r. prcx:ribcoradvocatethatthisdynamicsbedoneinfamilies, waY too' and neighbors' ln this ,i r'iends ;ii;;."it.' is a concened thc resolurion to the p'obltm of t"tl*tmcnr
familics "f"" spirirualiry
Popc

ginning God created

Tiaces of rhe

hcaucn and eartlz..

.f

*d L*m'nides' k bccomes e communrty

ll
ell

again i.n "Ecclcsia in fuia" cxhons the appeal of rhc Srnod Fathen secrors of rhc socicr.r.* ii"."o.r. (Sfciat Syt*d of Asian Bishops'98) to wit:

iohn Paul

"Thc Syrod Fathm pba&d in a qccial wa\fo'ff:Y of thc nations' l4israpawibiitT on th' p*i tb' badea

'f hrcn, business pl'iU n"i ott who *t

dirc*[1 inw'tucd in thc tnanagemcnt of thc eerlh\ resa*trx'

Bisheps in '*ia' kological To John Pail II atd thc ouu *-':o: spirirualiry tneans resPo?lsibh .struankhip sttwardship is

every human! disdnctly human activiry,I.h* *rra will; man rhe perfectioi, .fC"a f...*1r,; generation of knowledge is thi ternpral image of the #rrul generarion of divine'lTisdom; and

substantial rhing; rhe wisdom of the son is .t . i*rrrrr.ty dJ_ railed per6ction of every kind of rhing the burning *ifiJf Holy Spirir in the smoorh harmony unirrersc. Therc is more rhan a rrace, there-is a positivc image of the

tiniry are plainly marked in the non_human world which serves rhe irrreret ofthe humans: uhraorn, of that independence of Farher in the indivilual "

i"rrdr),;*";

If *.

*,

*ly,n* r.fl.*

dtry ; *j'*u ;;; ,r*

.rl

Authcntic which God entnuad io humanity ns not lnb manife*ed in th' p*u'tion of 'n"i*n?'|ccnt an ahical bruc' h is thc rchnicd! q*ni'i'i b* aboui all carc of tk enuirenrnent' not

his actions and rhe reiterared proclamadon r:f the erernal fio,w of subsantial love, rhe Holy Spirir, from Farler and Son,

ceeds the love rhar is at rhe same time the

irom thacLowledn*

dr;i;;.;;:;"If

i.'

Z dassffiyt*#

moral duty of atl

n tdhe goad ,h,i' o* good i* for onlv for erations' as wdl''

tbe good of rht

futt*

gen'

l.
_

Point for Reflecion:

In his Message for rhe Celebradcn of rhe World Day of l,lggg,His Holiness pope John n""f f,1*pfr"sizrd rhe responsibiliry for the .rlriror*.ir. Tc wir:
P.eac.e,fanuary Tht pronotion of haman dign;ry ir linhed
to d heablry

I. DEEPEHII*C:
1. Rtfr*ctian

t:

il tr

ill

{'

noth' u'ith rruth, thar Cod calls ever'nhing lrom of pro' almost incapabic ingness' we are .r,,fn' up brearhless" stands at rhc brink ol rhc tq'orld; test. lE is not ,-rnlr''ti*t "L';onthat great trurh' r*'e smnd on thc eventime we dare to iook at tr',. wcrkl of our understanding' caughr :P "i ,:[ mvsteqy's invitatior' to steP out inro thc d'arKnes] the terror on Go*'ing rhe rruth' Therc and our minci's ,,,,'obo* insistence rhis tru*r is so much big: is humiliaricn here iot " p'oud man; of his own mind' There is comforr the wi!'lest 6er than "'*"ht' of knowtng thar. there,are here i:or ths wise man' The comflort to.hoY *: *"1-i."."i rruEhs sclo big tor the hurnan mind all truth''Wise or Prou'' mind of ours is not the full measure of stands: "In thc bc' terrified or enticed, a! we nlay be' the rnl-'h
Faced

i'.i*

fy*:

w rhi right. Butjuridic *oo*ro by th:n*riro arc ears*ffiricnt. flc dangy afserioas dr*g, to land and sea,
cfimate,

aamics ofthc nlationship beween ard body of int*national, regioaal and nadonal norms an the endranmcnt is graduaily gia;ngiur&icform et7.

muiro7my.r ,;ne tlr;s;ght t;gt trght, tlrTl_

tbe righr

*i;"a;i;aril

rj-

fura

and

modcrn duilizatio

enuironmeat needs to bc mcouraged.

(;spaat Spctial training aimed dt teaching rhcm hou, ro ltarmarizc the rultiyarion of &c {and wi$ r_puofr, ,b,

ti* io,poor$ dluen by )rrio;ty n opk;ibryo* swrainabb lifuia the titb hnd whtci tbcy Lao, aithci,
in rural
areas can
b.e

in tltc richer couatries" Nor can *, uurlrrrrti**tc another nst, ewn ifit * a hss drasric one: peopb urbo

nid u tb, ,itk Sn a profottnd ,lrorg, io {aune nls. typ ica! coruamcr i,1'r ry *, pn*itul4

,.
$i

t{

*j

508

309

H!