1.11 The meaning of stewardship

Question 1

Ways Catholics can care for the environment

Answer 1

At a local level:
Recycle more
Educate others about the importance of protecting the environment
Walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving
Throw away less waste
At a national level:
Put pressure on politicians to support laws that protect the environment
Support/buy products from environment-friendly businesses
Put pressure on companies to ensure they follow environment-friendly policies.
At a global level:
Put pressure on governments to implement policies agreed at international meetings
Boycott/help to expose international companies that threaten the environment

Question 2

Catholic teaching about caring for the environment

Answer 2

It’s not enough just to think/talk about being environmentally friendly,it’s important for Catholics to take real actions in protecting the environment.
The phrase for God to man to ‘till it and keep it’ regarding the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:15 shows humans have a responsibility to take care of the whole earth,and not exploit it from themselves.
Christians must accept interdependence with creation in order to change the attitudes/actions of themselves and others.

Question 3

Examples of teaching on sustainability

Answer 3

Laudato Si(part of
Pope Francis’s encyclicals) sets out the problems facing the Earth and potential solutions for Christians in the 2015 letter from Pope Francis that claims:
We need a common plan to protect our common home.
The Earth is ‘God’s gift to us, full of beauty and wonder’
Climate change affects people in poorer countries most, because they don’t have the money to adapt.
There are rising gaps between the rich and the poor.

Question 4

Interdependence

Answer 4

Relying/depending on each other, a change to one thing affects other things as well

Question 5

Pope Francis quote on stewardship

Answer 5

Laudato Si 78- This world “challenges us to devise intelligent ways of directing, developing and limiting our power.”

Question 6

Opposing views on stewardship

Answer 6

People feel there is no point in taking any individual action to help save the environment, as the actions of one person can’t make a difference, but as long as individuals work towards the same goals, progress will be made.