Care for our common home

Globally, most people are living longer and healthier lives. The average life expectancy (worldwide) has grown from 47 years in 1955 to 69 years in 2010. However, these gains in the present have often come at the cost of jeopardizing the health of future generations. The ocean is becoming acidic, forests are being cut down, air temperature is increasing, fisheries are being depleted, and fresh water is becoming scarce. Our actions are driving species to extinction at a rate that is 100 times faster than ever observed in the geologic record.  Soon the world will have only one remaining species - humans - if we survive. The earth has a magnificent capacity to renew itself naturally, but only within limits. Our ever-increasing population of peoples is stressing our earthly home to beyond its capacity to renew itself.  This is the occasion and reason for the Pope's recent encyclical on the environment. We are responsible not only to each other, but also to our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This Fall semester, starting in September, I will be leading a lunch-time discussion group at St. Thomas More parish (Norman) on the Pope's encyclical - "what does it say?" and "how can we best respond?" Please join us if you can. Send me an email and I will put you on our list. Our common home is like a "sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us" (Laudato Si', #1). May we understand how to better care for our common home, the Earth. - - - Fr. Jim