Both Malawi: “Caritas supports sustainable agriculture in Malawi.

Credits: CRS/Dave Snyder

Climate change presents moral and ethical questions that need to be answered. The principles of Catholic social teaching guide us in our response to tackling the greatest challenge facing humankind.

Equality and universal destiny of created goods

“Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:27).  We have been given the gift of sharing in God’s creative activity to transform the world.

The Church teaches that “God destined the earth and all it contains for all men and all peoples so that all created things would be shared fairly by all mankind under the guidance of justice tempered by charity.”

The natural environment is part of the “common good” that is given to us by our Creator. Each individual has a responsibility as a steward of creation to participate in the development and protection of the goods within creation. We also have the right to enjoy the fruits of the development.

Our responsibilities stretch beyond our own lifespan to safeguard the possibilities of future generations to share in the common good of creation.

This is the covenant of mutual respect and care between God, creatures and humans.

Stewardship is a guiding principle in Christianity, encouraging us to live within our means, and to live sustainably.

The Church teaches that authentic development is God’s hopeful plan for the human race within Creation.

It involves the social, spiritual, ecological and economic dimensions of our existence. It is a plan that originates within God’s love and one that depends on our free will and cooperation to be realised.
 
Jesus’ prayer that God’s “kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven” is at the heart of the Church’s social gospel teaching.