On Care for Our Common Home: The Pope's New Encyclical Letter

Addressed not only to Catholics but to "every person living on this planet," Pope Francis' second encyclical is a challenging call for a "bold cultural revolution" in how we think about technological progress and economic growth. The degradation of our environment, he says, is a symptom of deeper problems: rapid change, unsustainable overconsumption, indifference to the poor, and the decay of social values. He offers a variety of solutions, including a change in lifestyles away from "extreme consumerism" and towards a greater sense of social responsibility. For Christians, an "ecological spirituality"one that is grounded in the convictions of our faithis not "an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience." Drawing on the rich social teachings of the Church, "Laudato Si/i>' is a groundbreaking document that will be discussed and studied by both believers and non-believers for years to come. Study Guide Included for Reflection and Discussion.