Integral Ecology & Sustainability

AoC Toolbox

Laudato Si

In Pope Francis' encyclical titled, Laudato Si', he calls on "all people of good will" to undergo an ecological conversion, which is defined as a greater love for God, each other, and creation by acknowledging our contribution to the ecological crisis. To date, Laudato Si' is the most comprehensive Vatican document on environmentalism, ethics, and Christian faith. Pope Francis wanted to call all world leaders to take action on the Paris Climate Agreement, which was the first time all nations came together to set real goals to lower global warming, and it continues to be pursued today.

LSAP

The LSAP, or the Laudato Si' Action Platform, is an initiative of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, inspired by Laudato Si'. The goal is to achieve solutions to the ecological crisis, and to protect our Common Home.

For more on LSAP, click here.

Green Pocket Guide

Click here to learn how you can adopt sustainable lifestyles.

LSAP at the AoC

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has joined the LSAP and is now working to support effort to implement the goals that the Church wants to achieve. This work is led by the Care for Creation Task Force. These goals can be met if enough individuals, families, parishes, schools, universities, and business support them. Each of those groups can be provided with the resources and best practices necessary to get this done. Here are the goals:

Goal 1: Create awareness and inform

  • Promote the contents of the Laudato Si'. The goal is to have communities integrating their care for creation into their religious practice.
  • Create opportunities for educating people on this ecological crisis.
  • Receive support from the Archbishop. The platform wants to get this agenda to the office of the archbishop.

Goal 2: Connect [with others and nature] and build a network

  • Promote continuous remote and in-person gatherings of people from the parish and school sector to encourage conversations and provide opportunities to get involved. 
  • Promote contemplation and interaction within nature.
  • Celebrate Laudato Si' on a regular basis and use successes as platforms for next steps, cycling upward and outward.

Goal 3, Part I: Act, Advocate and Empower

  • Make practical resources available for communities in their effort to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Promote socially responsibleconsumption, purchasing, and investment.
  • Build a broadcasting strategy that is focused on the ecological crisis and the people leading change at the local, national, and global level.

Goal 3, Part II: Act Advocate and Empower

  • Provide opportunities for members to access current environmental legislation.
  • Crate ways for people and their communities to advocate for policy change/support.
  • Support initiatives for green energy, zero waste, and environmental justice.
  • Collaborate with Catholics around the archdiocese in presenting a Catholic voice in favor of environmental legislation.
  • Include Environmental Justice as a part of Catholic Social Teaching.