Vatican
Sums Up Christian Vision of Creation
Publishes 10 Commandments of the Environment
By Inmaculada Álvarez
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 5, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Showing its
support for the U.N.-sponsored World Environment Day,
the Vatican has released the Ten Commandments of the
environment, inspired by the Christian vision of
creation.
Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace, presented the 10 points
on the opening day of Milan's first festival of the
environment, which began Wednesday.
The secretary told Vatican Radio today that the document
is an attempt "to explain in 10 points the most
important aspects of the chapter on the environment in
the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church."
He added that is an effort to enlighten Christian
communities, groups and movements on "the very rich
social magisterium of the Church on the specific
question of the environment and its protection."
Bishop Crepaldi expressed his appreciation for the
U.N.'s initiative in establishing the world day,
although he commented that this year's theme -- "Toward
a Low Carbon Economy" -- should take other variables
into account, involving the relationship between the
rich and poor world.
"The objective and perspective delineated by the social
magisterium of the Church, confirmed many times by
[Benedict XVI], is that of a just and unified economy.
It is good to decrease the rate of carbon, but it is
also necessary to add other things," he continued.
Reality check
In regard to the debate on the use of alternative
energies, the prelate encouraged the development of the
latter. "However, one must be realistic, given that at
present it is not possible to sustain the existing
economic systems solely with alternative energies."
The Vatican official said an answer must be given to
"the poverty and underdevelopment of so many areas of
the planet, and when we speak of underdevelopment, we
are speaking of millions and millions of poor, of people
who have nothing."
Regarding the will of the international community to
reduce carbon emissions in order to combat global
warming, Bishop Crepaldi said that it is a "very complex
and controversial" issue, which calls for "greater
commitment at the scientific level" to "clarify the
terms of this issue, in an effort to evaluate the
long-term effects."
He noted the need for greater commitment "from the
political point of view, because the policies
implemented by governments to control so-called global
warming are policies that are difficult to sustain from
the economic point of view; they are too costly. Both
scientists as well as politicians, evidently with the
participation of civil society, must continue to work in
this field."
On nuclear energy the bishop clarified that the Church
"condemns its military use," but has "no objection to
its civil use."
"Evidently, we are faced with a very delicate issue,"
said Bishop Crepaldi, "because in this case we have a
cultural and political problem when it is stated that
nuclear energy will be used for civil needs, but in
reality, some are planning to use it for military
objectives."
