Catholics
Going GreenA Small-Group Guide for Learning and Living Environmental Justice
Suggestion: If you buy any of these books, buy an extra copy for your local library!
Catholics
Going Green
A Small-Group Guide for Learning and Living Environmental Justice
Editor: Walter Grazer
Published: May 2009 by Ave Maria Press
This small-group resource examines basic environmental justice themes through the lens of Catholic social teaching and scripture. The compact, ninety-minute session format is perfect for busy adults who want to stay connected with environmental topics in a meaningful, engaged way. We think every parish should have a bundle of these guides!
The session topics include:
1. We Walk on Holy Ground
2. We Honor the Dignity of the Human Person
3. We Stand in Solidarity
4. We Share the Goods of he Earth
5. We Champion the Cause for Global Human Development
6. We Answer the Call to Conversion for Life
Price: $5.95
Buy "Catholics Going Green" here.
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace's book, "From Stockholm to Johannesburg: An Historical Overview of the Concern of the Holy See for the Environment," is available at paxbook.com -- NOTE: search for "From Stockholm" on that site. The book, written by Sister Marjorie Keenan, highlights the position of the church on various issues including the controversial issue of population control. It includes excerpts from 24 papal or Vatican documents concerning environmental issues. The book is also available from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference for $8 plus shipping and handling. Visit http://www.ncrlc.com/bookstore.html
God in the Garden
Organized in a week-by-week format corresponding to the Christian calendar year, this beautiful book includes plant features, meditations, relevant Scripture passages, timely gardening information, and simple prayers. Also included are inspirational gardening quotes, bits of nature folklore, features on religious festivals and holidays, and biographical profiles of renowned religious botanists. A complete resource guide provides ordering information for hard-to-find plants and supplies and information on gardening catalogs and websites.
Leaves of Prayer - Scriptural Passages and Catholic
Reflections For Those Who Enjoy Nature, by Anthony R.
Brach. Leaves of Prayer is a book of reflections, selected Biblical
passages, and quotations upon the mystery of God's creation for prayer, study,
and meditation. The twenty chapters offer prayerful, optimistic meditations for
reflecting upon God's creation-the universe, seasons, rainbows and auroras, the
earth, mountains and hills, rock, wind, water, ice and snow, lightning and fire,
flora, fauna, wings and angels, the human family, stewardship, suffering, death
and resurrection. You can preview/browse excerpts at: http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/leavesofprayer/.
Sisters
in Crisis: The Tragic Unraveling of Women's Religious Communities
by Ann Carey. Journalist Ann Carey examines the many forces that have
contributed to the decline of women's religious communities in the United
States, concluding that the radical agenda of activist nuns has done more than
anything else to bring about collapse. Now more than 12 years old, "Sisters
in Crisis" remains a scholarly, fascinating, and disturbing work. You can
buy it at Amazon.com.
Ann Carey moderates a Yahoo group for sisters who support the Apostolic Visitation at Yahoo groups. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SistersSupportingApostolicVisitation/
Other Recommended Reading:
WENDELL BERRY
Wendell Berry (not to be confused with Thomas Berry!) is the author of more than thirty-two books of essays, poetry, and novels. Wendell Berry, novelist, essayist, poet, and farmer, is a central contributor to the growing renaissance of Christian culture. Wendell Berry is completely at home with the Christian tradition. Reverence is a hallmark of Berry’s work — reverence for the gift of creation, for the sanctity of the Word, for the sacred uniqueness of his subjects. Wendell Berry's work is highly recommended by the Catholic Conservation Center. For a sample, read Christianity and the Survival of Creation. Read more about Berry at the Catholic Educator's Resource Center.
More Recommended Reading:
The greatest book ever written about the stewardship of creation: the Bible! Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. 1970. The New American Bible. Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, Inc.
1994. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications.
Christiansen, D. and W. Grazer, eds. 1996. "And God Saw That It Was Good:" Catholic Theology and the Environment. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, Inc. (see U.S. Bishops Conference section below.)
Daly, Gabriel. 1989. Creation and Redemption (Theology and Life Series, Vol. 25). Michael Glazier. Out of print; look for a used copy with an internet search.
De Montfort, St. Louis. 1941. True Devotion to Mary. Rockford, IL: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.
Dent, Sister Ancilla, ed. 1997. Ecology and Faith: The Writings of Pope John Paul II. Ipswich, Suffolk, Great Britain: Ipswich Book Company. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Derrick, Christopher. 1972. The Delicate Creation: Towards a Theology of the Environment. Old Greenwich: Devin-Adair. May be out of print; look for a used copy with an internet search. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Gregg, Samual. 2000. Beyond Romanticism: Questioning the Green Gospel. St. Leonards, NSW: The Centre for Independent Studies Limited. Website: www.cis.org.au
Hahn, Scott. 2001. Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God. New York: Doubleday. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
John Paul II, Pope. 1996. God, Father and Creator: A Catechesis on the Creed. Boston: Pauline Books and Media.
Keenan, Sister Marjorie, RSHM. 2000. Care for Creation: Human Activity and the Environment. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Mick, Fr. Lawrence E. Liturgy and Ecology in Dialogue. 1997. The Liturgical Press. Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. This is nearly out-of-print, but may still be available at the Liturgical Press website. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Murphy, Charles M. 1989. At Home on Earth: Foundations for a Catholic Ethic of the Environment. New York: Crossroads. May be out of print; look for a used copy with an internet search. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Royal, Robert. 1999. The Virgin and the Dynamo: Use and Abuse of Religion in Environmental Debates. Washington, D.C.: Ethics and Public Policy Center. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Theological-Historical Commission for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. 1999. The Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life. New York: Crossroad Publishing.
St. Therese of Lisieux. Story of a Soul. Translation by John Clarke, O.C.D. Translation copyright 1976 by Washington Province of Discalced Carmelites, Inc.
United States Catholic Conference. 1996. Let the Earth Bless the Lord: God's Creation and Our Responsibility, A Catholic Approach to the Environment. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, Inc.
United States Catholic Conference. 1994. Renewing the Earth: A Resource for Parishes. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, Inc.
Van Dyke, Fred, David C. Mahan, Joseph K. Sheldon, and Raymond H. Brand. 1996. Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship. Donors Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Not specifically Catholic, but Christian. This is an excellent book, written by biologists, describing the Biblical basis for environmental stewardship. However, it does err on the population question and fails to quote Pope John Paul II, the world's foremost Christian leader on environmental issues. It's still well worth reading. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Whelan, Robert, Joseph Kirwan, Paul Haffner. 1996. The Cross and the Rain Forest: A Critique of Radical Green Spirituality. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty.
Lost in the Forest? Some Books on Ecology ARTICLE BY STRATFORD CALDECOTT
For links to important writings and documentation, plus other resources, please visit the links page.
Main Menu Introduction Peace with God and all Creation Ecological Conversion Declaration on Environment Hebrew Scripture Christian Scripture Catechism Pope John Paul II Bishops Saints Lay/Religious St.Francis Kateri Tekakwitha St.Thérèse Population Creation Theology Get Involved Prayers Resources Links About Us The Earth Charter Cornwall Declaration
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