Safeguarding the Environment / Pa Cathlic Conference mailings

As per Chapter 10 of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church,

• “Only man and woman, among all creatures, were made by God 'in his own image' (Gen 1,27)....The biblical vision inspires the behaviour of Christians in relation to their use of the earth, and also with regard to the advances of science and technology....
  
  “A correct understanding of the environment prevents the utilitarian reduction of nature to a mere object to be manipulated and exploited. At the same time, it must not absolutize nature and place it above the dignity of the human person himself….
  
  “Christian culture has always recognized the creatures that surround man as also gifts of God to be nurtured and safeguarded with a sense of gratitude to the Creator....
  
  “nature is not a sacred or divine reality that man must leave alone. Rather, it is a gift offered by the Creator to the human community….
  
  “the goods of the earth were created by God to be used wisely by all. They must be shared equitably, in accordance with justice and charity....
  
  “The close link that exists between the development of the poorest countries, demographic changes and a sustainable use of the environment must not become a pretext for political and economic choices that are at variance with the dignity of the human person….
  
  "Although it is true that an uneven distribution of the population and of available resources creates obstacles to development and a sustainable use of the environment, it must nonetheless be recognized that demographic growth is fully compatible with an integral and shared development….
  
  “Inadequate access to safe drinking water affects the well-being of a huge number of people and is often the cause of disease, suffering, conflicts, poverty and even death....the right to safe drinking water is a universal and inalienable right.
  
  "lifestyles should be inspired by sobriety, temperance, and self-discipline at both the individual and social levels”

from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference....

• "Earlier this month, the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania issued a letter requesting that all Catholics dedicate the regular Lenten Friday practice of prayer and abstinence from meat as well as the additional practice of fasting on Friday, March 30, to the preservation of religious liberty. The call to prayer and fasting is part of a continued response to the mandate imposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that forces all employers, including religious employers, to buy coverage for sterilization & contraceptives, including drugs that induce abortion. The mandate is a serious infringement on freedom of conscience, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment" (March 31st mailing from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference).



• "the PA Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender bias found that racial, ethnic and gender bias 'significantly affect the way parties, witnesses, litigants, lawyers, court employees and potential jurors are treated'....Justice calls for punishment for crimes, but in America’s modern penal system, there are alternatives to killing – like life imprisonment – that would break the cycle of violence created by the death penalty" (March 31st mailing from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference).



• "As the state budget is debated in Harrisburg, there are two programs that should receive funding because of the important work they do in assisting those in need. First, the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) offers short-term loans to Pennsylvanians who find themselves unable to make their monthly mortgage payments due to circumstances beyond their control....The GA program supports the most vulnerable in our commonwealth ....'Both of these programs have proven to help those in need and their continuation is necessary for providing a sound, reasonable safety net in Pennsylvania,' said Fran Viglietta, Director of the Social Concerns Department, 'We ask that Governor Corbett and the state legislature ensure that those in need are recognized during this budget debate through the restoration of HEMAP and GA.'"(March 23rd mailing from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference)