- The International Theological Commission published a new document Sept. 2 calling for ecological conversion due to sin against creation and the Creator.
- The document, titled “Caring for Our Common Home: A Responsible and Fraternal Response to the Triune God,” was approved by a majority of commission members in a July vote and authorized for release by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, after being presented to Pope Leo XIV.
- More than a decade after Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’,” the commission goes beyond his phrase “ecological sin” by proposing more precise terminology: “sin against creation and the Creator.”
- The document defines this sin as violating the meaning of creation intended by God, harming neighbors—especially the poorest and future generations—and distorting the three relationships that define us: with God, with neighbors, and with creation itself.
- The document is divided into three chapters describing a “threefold transformation” in culture’s relationship to nature since the 16th century: loss of perception of nature as God’s creation, emergence of an anthropocentric and predatory vision, and spread of a planetary ecological crisis.
- Msgr. Piero Coda, secretary general of the commission, highlighted the proposal to understand sin against the environment similarly to social sin and structures of sin, calling for a conversion that must first find expression on spiritual and religious levels.
- The document rejects both “predatory anthropocentrism” and radical biocentrism, instead proposing “situated anthropocentrism”—a term used by Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV—describing the human vocation as a “steward” and “servant of creation.”
- The document offers practical guidelines for “ecological conversion,” including mindful consumption, balanced rhythms of work and rest with the Benedictine idea of “ora et labora,” and listening to the cry of the Earth and the poor, while also opening doors to interreligious cooperation.
The Vatican's International Theological Commission has published a significant document titled “Caring for Our Common Home: A Responsible and Fraternal Response to the Triune God,” which calls for ecological conversion and defines a new term: “sin against creation and the Creator.”
This document, approved in July and released on September 2, builds on Pope Francis's earlier encyclical “Laudato Si’,” and aims to clarify the moral implications of humanity's relationship with nature. The commission states, “We propose understanding this sin against our Common Home as a ‘sin against creation and against the Creator,’ insofar as it violates the meaning of creation intended by God the Creator.”
The text emphasizes that neglecting our responsibilities towards the environment not only disrespects God’s plan but also harms our neighbors, particularly the most vulnerable and future generations. It highlights the need for a “threefold transformation” in our cultural relationship with nature, addressing the ecological crisis that has emerged since the 16th century.
Msgr. Piero Coda, secretary general of the commission, noted the importance of understanding ecological sin in a manner akin to social sin, stating, “This underscores the profound seriousness of the ‘ecological turning point’ that challenges our conscience today.” The document also proposes practical guidelines for “ecological conversion,” emphasizing mindful consumption and respect for life.
It concludes with a call for interreligious cooperation in caring for creation, affirming that the spiritual and religious dimensions are crucial for effective ecological action.
“The document, titled 'Caring for Our Common Home: A Responsible and Fraternal Response to the Triune God,' was approved by a majority in a July vote and authorized by Cardinal Fernández after being presented to Pope Leo XIV. It proposes 'situated anthropocentrism' and practical guidelines like 'ora et labora' for ecological conversion.”
