Environmental Justice

In recent years the Church has greatly developed its teaching on Environmental Stewardship and Care for Creation. This page will list resources which express this teaching, from the universal Church, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and from local sources.

The Universal Church

Pope John Paul II - World Day of Peace 1990 - "Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All Creation"
International Theological Commission - Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God (1994) - sections 56 to 61 and 71 to 94
Pope Benedict XVI - Caritas in Veritatae (Love in Truth) 2009 - sections 43 to 52
Pope Benedict XVI - World Day of Peace 2010 - "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation"

The USCCB

Environmental Issues
Environmental Justice Program: Caring for God's Creation
Renewing the Earth - 1991

Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good - 2001
Catholic Climate Covenant
The St. Francis Pledge

The Local Community

The Franciscan Coalition for Justice and Peace

Updated March 31 2010

Environmental Stewardship "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and all they that dwell therein."   (Psalm 24:1)

Chair or Contact Person
Bob Weickert
919.929.0715
bob_weickert@mindspring.com

Additional Contact(s)
Mark Simon, Co-chair
919.960.6050
mds717@bellsouth.net

Mission Statement/Purpose
Comprised of parishioners, faculty and staff, and families, this group has a two-part mission: 1) The establishment or improvement of environmental management practices in church and school buildings and grounds, and 2) The encouragement throughout the parish and school of the dimension of spirituality that can be called Christian environmental stewardship.

Major Accomplishments 

• Instituted classroom recycling and measurement process for St. Thomas More school.
• Lent 2009: Narthex display of good practices for water and energy conservation.
• Parish picnic watermelon rind capture and composting.
• May, 2009: presentation by Dr. Katherine Shea on, “Body & Spirit: Environmental Stewardship and Your Health.”
• Merge of the St. Thomas More New Building Sustainability Committee into the Environmental Stewardship Ministry.
• Introduction of the Catholic Climate Covenant and the St. Francis Pledge to the parish on the feast of Christ the King.

Major Activity

• Recycling in the school and parish office
• Administering the St. Francis Pledge

Meeting Frequency
Third Monday of every month, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Meeting Venue
Room #6 in Upper School.

Estimated Time Commitment for Volunteers
One 2-hour meeting per month plus additional activities/projects as volunteered.

Special Skills
Computerized spreadsheet skills (to track measurements); written communication skills (through parish media); building maintenance skills, such as caulk and insulation.