What is Catholic Social Teaching? 

The theme of care for God’s creation calls Christians to be stewards of God’s creation to show respect to God and to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ by protecting the people of Earth.  This duty is described in Genesis, the first book of the Christian Bible “ The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Gen 2:15 NIV).  This passage is a basis for Christian duty to be stewards of creation as God willed it when he put Adam in the Garden of Eden. 

In response to the global climate crisis Pope Francis released Laudato Si’, an encyclical calling for care for our common home. This encyclical summarizes the scope of climate issues around the world and gives a reflection on Christian teachings for care of creation and caring for each other. Pope Francis calls the world to action to work towards a better planet by using scientific thought and spirituality. He writes, “Any technical solution which science claims to offer will be powerless to solve the serious problems of our world if humanity loses its compass, if we lose sight of the great motivations which make it possible for us to live in harmony, to make sacrifices and to treat others well.”

The theme of care for God’s creation is greatly linked to ocean conservation as the ocean is a part of God’s creation and is an extremely important part of our world. The ocean is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth and it nurtures and provides for people across the world. Protecting it is not only protecting the animals God created but the people he created in his image as well. 

The theme of option for the poor and vulnerable calls for Christians to care for those who are in need as is described in scripture.  In the Book of Deuteronomy it states “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” (Deut 15:11 NIV). 

 The connection between ocean conservation and the theme of option for the poor and vulnerable becomes clear as we see the daily injustices faced by people living on shorelines and in middle to low income countries along with the animals that suffer due to human effects on the environment. 

Pope Francis acknowledges this connection in Laudato Si’ where he connects it to climate change’s drastic effect on the world due to the use of fossil fuels and how this impacts low income communities and communities of color the most. Pope Francis also brings up the biodiversity loss we are facing due to a changing Earth and loss of habitat.