Recoletos School of Theology

An Affiliate of the Royal and Pontifical

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (MANILA)
Justice and Social Doctrines of the Church
Name: Gilberto B. Bea
Discussion #7/10
Title: A i r P o l l u t i o n
PREPARED BY: MARIA LIRIO L. GUILLERMO, A.R., S.Th.D., Ph.D.

Discussion Title: Air Pollution a threat to human and to the Environment

Discussion Tool: See-Judge-Act
Discussion
See:
Causes of Air Pollution Effects of Air Pollution
• Burning of fossil fuels • Respiratory and heart problems
• Agricultural activities • Global warming
• Exhaust from factories and industries • Acid rain
• Mining Operations • Eutrophication
• Indoor air pollutions • Effects on Wildlife
• Depletion of Ozone Layer

Judge:
• Certain elements of today's ecological crisis reveal its moral character. First among these is the indiscriminate
application of advances in science and technology. Many recent discoveries have brought undeniable benefits to
humanity. Indeed, they demonstrate the nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibly in God's creative
action in the world. Unfortunately, it is now clear that the application of these discoveries in the fields of industry
and agriculture have produced harmful long-term effects. This has led to the painful realization that we cannot
interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference
in other areas and to the well-being of future generations. MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II FOR THE
CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE no. 6, (1 JANUARY 1990)
• The Church has a responsibility towards creation, and she considers it her duty to exercise that responsibility in
public life, in order to protect earth, water and air as gifts of God the Creator meant for everyone, and above all to
save mankind from the danger of self-destruction. The degradation of nature is closely linked to the cultural models
shaping human coexistence: consequently, “when ‘human ecology’ is respected within society, environmental
ecology also benefits”. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 51.
• The natural environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility of everyone. If we
make something our own, it is only to administer it for the good of all. If we do not, we burden our consciences with
the weight of having denied the existence of others. That is why the New Zealand bishops asked what the
commandment “Thou shall not kill” means when “twenty percent of the world’s population consumes resources at
a rate that robs the poor nations and future generations of what they need to survive”. Laudato Si, 95

Act: As we know that God’s gift of creation sustains life. As Christians, we believed that it is our duty to
be the stewards of God’s creation and protect His masterpiece. In order to address these issues of Air
Pollutions, it is very important to understand and reflect to the Social teachings of the Church and be it
as a guide in our daily lives. We have to encourage every people to conserve energy in order to reduce
the amount of fossils fuel to be burned and emphasized on clean energy resources like solar, wind and
geothermal. The Church must not stop educating the people about the beauty of the creations of God.
But it is also a challenge for the Church to set a good example not only by mere words and ideas but
through an actions in order for these teachings to be promulgated.

Signature:
Printed Name: Gilberto B. Bea Date: September 26, 2018