CATHOLIC ECOLOGY

In our country it is easy to blame the government for the unwanted filth that greets every concerned person, but the dilemma is due to the total disregard for the environment by the citizens of this beloved nation. The garbage problem is not only the responsibility of the government, but is also caused by the citizens who take no pride in how the cities and waterways across the country look. 

The other is the mess we are making in Guyana at present in destroying the forest and polluting the rivers and similar practices. We turn a blind eye to the environmental impacts caused by these acts.

 Christians must recognize that we are not the all-powerful masters of the laws of nature. We are creatures, part of the created world which our country is a part of, and we cannot treat the environment as if it is our property to use however we like.  

We are reminded that the basis of Catholic concern over the care for the environment is in Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and all that it holds.” In response to the wonderful gift that God has given us of clean air, life- sustaining water, fruits from the land’s harvests and even nourishment from the sea, we are called to not only honor God for these many blessings but to also do so by honoring his creation.

It is because we value our relationship with God and God’s creation that we must show a concern for the ecosystem profoundly from a spiritual, ethical, and moral aspect. The care for the environment is our responsibility as God’s children and people of faith to care for each other and future generations by caring for all of God’s wondrous creation.

 In the Bible we are called to love God, and care for each other and all of God’s creation. If we improperly or disproportionately use the fruit of God’s earth, we not only dishonor him but also we ultimately endanger the livelihood of our poor and marginalized siblings who most depend on God’s creation.

 Pope Francis pushes the boundaries for us today to reconsider and broaden our under- standing of the gospel, questioned: Who is my neighbor? Because for him the concept of "neighbor" included, not only the human race, but the whole of creation.  

As such the Pope challenges ‘Christians’ to treat the environment, with love and care in order to respect God’s creation. With the Holy Father’s words of hope we can strive to promote an ‘ecological church’ which hopefully can help our beautiful Guyana and its people to live in harmony and have respect for the environment  where we can pray with the birds and animals our best friends, as Saint Francis did. Thus, as a church in Guyana, let us pray for it to become more active in sensitizing the faithful in seeing creation as our neighbor, and not for exploiting it for selfish benefits, but use our instincts to know that it’s God’s sacred gift to us, and that we should to take care of it!

Medino Abraham