TOPIC 1

THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF STEWARDSHIP

Catechetical Foundation

(CFC 341) "We are called to exercise responsible STEWARDSHIP over all creation. Such a
stewardship is exercised in our daily activities which we can rightfully consider as a prolonga of
God's continuing work of creating, and a service to our fellowmen and women. One sign of
"Living Faith" is that we realize God's graceful, supporting presence in all our good thoughts,
words and deeds. Far from being "in competition with God," we recognize in the depths of our
hearts and minds, the truth of Christ's simple assertion: apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn
15:5)

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
 Discuss and to know the biblical basis and general view of stewardship; and
 Define and to appreciate the meaning and nature of stewardship in the light of present
day circumstances.

Contents

1. Stewardship in Old Testament

- "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1)

- "To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything
in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14)

- "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and
my tenants." (Leviticus 25:23)
- "Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." (Job
41:11)

- Stewardship is further supported and sustained theologically on the understanding of God's

holiness as found in such vers as: Genesis 1:2, Psalm 104, Psalm 113, 1 Chronicles 29:10-2
Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 1:8.

- An example of stewardship is in Genesis 2:15. The drive to "serve the garden in which we have
been placed" (also Genes 2:15) sees Christian influence in political and practical affairs,

- The concept is also seen in Leviticus 25.1-5. The implication is that the land is not to be
exhausted or abused for short-term gains.

- Stewardship in Christianity follows from the belief that human beings are created by the same
God who creat the entire universe and everything in it. To look after the Earth, and thus God's
dominion, is the responsibility of the Christian steward,

- A useful quote explaining stewardship can be found in Psalm 24:1.

- A broader concept of stewardship is illustrated in Jesus' parable of the "talents", which refer to
an amount of money but by implication (and by common use of the word in English as
"abilities").

2. Stewardship in the New Testament

Matthew 25:14-30 - The parable basically teaches that people are accountable and responsible to
God for the way they use the resources they are given. They are expected to "steward" or
"manage these for the One who owns and has given them for this purpose.

Additionally, frequent references to the "tithe", or giving of a "tenth" (the meaning of tithe) are
found throughout the Bible, The tithe represents the returning to God a significant, specific, and
intentional portion of material gain. However, giving is not limited to the tithe or a specific
amount, illustrated by Jesus' comment that a woman who gave a very small amount had given
more than those had given large amounts because while they gave out of their abundance, she
gave all she had to live on." (Mark 12.41-44; Luke 21.1-4)

Biblical Reflections
An example of stewardship is in Genesis 2:15. The drive to "serve the garden in which we have
been placed" (also Genesis 2:15) sees Christian influence in political and practical affairs.

The concept is also seen in Leviticus 25.1-5. The implication is that the land is not to be
exhausted or abused for short-term gains.

Stewardship in Christianity follows from the belief that human beings are created by the same
God who created the entire universe and everything in it. To look after the Earth, and thus God's
dominion, is the responsibility of the Christian steward. A useful quote explaining stewardship
can be found in Psalm 24:1.

A broader concept of stewardship is illustrated in Jesus' parable of the "talents", which refer to an
amount of amount of money but by implication (and by common use of the word in English as
"abilities").

TOPIC 2

PRESENT MEANING AND NATURE OF STEWARDSHIP

Principles of Catholic Stewardship of Time, Talents and Treasure (Application)

Scriptural Foundation

"As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied
grace." (Peter 4:10)

Objective: At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

 Comprehend the effects of the application of stewardship in our life.

Content:

Stewardship in Theology

1. Stewardship is a belief that humans are responsible for the world, and should take care of it. It
can have political implications, such as in Christian Democracy.

2. In Christian tradition stewardship also refers to the way time, talents, material possessions, or
wealth are used or given for the service of God.

3. A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: "Utilizing and managing
all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation." The central
essence of biblical world view stewardship is managing everything God brings into the believers
life in a manner that

honors God and impacts eternity 4. Stewardship begins and ends with the understanding of God's
ownership of all:

5. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation
22:13)

6. "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1)
7. "To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything
in it." (Deuteronomy 10:14

8. "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and
my tenants." (Leviticus 25-23) 9. "Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything
under heaven belongs to me." (Job 41:11)

10. Stewardship is further supported and sustained theologically on the understanding of God's
holiness as found in such verse as: Genesis 1:2, Psalm 104, Psalm 113, 1 Chronicles 29:10-20,
Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 1:8.

Christian Views of Stewardship

1. Stewardship in a Christian context refers to the responsibility that Christians have in

maintaining and using wisely the gifts that God has bestowed. Increasingly this has referred to
environmental protectionism.

2. The word "stewardship" refers to the Catholic approach to the gifts that God has bestowed
upon us.

3. Stewardship is living out a commitment to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered.

Profound gratitude, justice and love become the fundamental motives for giving back to God.
Everything that God has given to us is intended to serve the divine plan. Therefore, our life is to
be lived in gratitude toward God.

4. In a variety of ways, we as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, share our time, talent and
treasure to build up the Church and make our world a better place. The Church needs you and
God has chosen you to go out into all the world. Every Christian is to take an active part in the
life of the Church and to share the gifts of salvation.

TOPIC 3
 SUMMARY: JESUS' SPIRITUAL STEWARDSHIP

Catechetical Foundation

"The good for all and each of the individual, because we are really responsible for all" (PCPII
295;). It means we are called to exercise responsible stewardship over all creation. Such a
stewardship is exercised in our daily lives and activities which we can rightfully consider as a
prolongation of God's continuing work of creating, and a service or diakonia to our fellow.

Objective:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

- Imbibe Jesus Christ's Spiritual stewardship in their daily lives.

Contents

Three convictions in particular underlie our understanding of stewardship.

1. Mature disciples make a conscious, firm decision, carried out in action, to be followers of
Jesus Christ no matter the cost to themselves.

2. Beginning in conversion, change of mind and heart, this hcardia commitment is expressed not
in a single action, nor even in a number of actions over a period of time, but in an entire way of
life. It means committing one's very self to the Lord.

3. Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand

and live out our lives. Disciples * who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life
the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be. They are deeply aware of
the truth that "The Lord's whatek are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell
you do to in it (Psalm 24:1)." They know themselves to be recipients and caretakers of God's
many gifts. They are grateful for what they have received and eager to cultivate their gifts out of
love for God and one another.

God's generosity will never be outdone by our own.

 MI
DTERM

TOPI
C1

THE5THCOMMANDMENT

(
EXODUS20:
12)

Theol
ogi
cal
Foundat
ion:

Youhaveheardt
hatitwassaidtothemenofold,
"Youshal
lnotki
ll
;andwhoeverki
ll
s
shal
lbel
iabl
etojudgment.ButIsaytoy
outhatever
yonewhoisangrywi
thhisbrot
her
shal
lbel
iabl
etojudgment.(Matt
hew5:21-
22)

Val
ueofLi
fe

 I
nt hi
sworld,Godgavehumanl
i
fetoHi
snoblestcreat
ure.I
tmustbethegreat
est
ofgif
tsbecausewit
hit,
manhasbeenabl
etoachieveallt
hepr
ogressthat
fl
ouri
shestoday.

 Butthisl
if
eisnoti
nperf
ectpeace.Asaresul
toft
heori
ginalsi
n,menfi
nd
themselv
essuccumbi
ngtoenv yandhatr
ed.Andf
all
i
ngintowhatCaindi
dto
Abel,menresor
tfr
om t
imetotimetoviol
entenmi
tyandkil
li
ng.

 SoGodhastor
emindustokeepval
uingt
hegi
ftofl
i
febywayoft
hef
if
th
commandment
.Youshal
lnotki
ll
.

Desecr
ati
ngLi
fe

 Kil
l
ingisoneoftheworstoff
ensesmencandoasi tdesecr
atesamostv al
ued
gi
ftfr
om theCreat
or.I
tputsanendtowhatonehumanbei ngcanpossibl
ydo
andachieve.I
tal
sobri
ngslosstoot
her
sleftbehi
ndbyt hevi
cti
m ofki
l
li
ng.

 Inthespir
itofChri
stianjust
ice,eventhe"l
east"ofhumanityl
ikehar
dened
cri
minals,
terminalpati
entsandf etusesofunwantedpregnanci
esarehuman
bei
ngswhodeser v
emer cyandhope.Anydel i
beratewaytheref
oretot
erminat
ea
humanl i
feisimmor alandunjust.

 Chri
sti
ansshouldloveli
febecauseiti
sthedoortohappi
nessandf
ulf
il
ment.
Anyt
hingthatt
hreatensitconst
ri
ctsthepossi
bil
i
tyofenj
oyi
ngtheworl
d,mor
eso
at
tai
ningwhatGodhasor dai
nedforusintheend.

 Thus,maint
aini
ngandprot
ect
ingadecentandhealt
hyl
if
eisadutyofever
y
Chri
sti
an.Asasignofoursol
i
dari
ty,
wear el
ikewi
seboundtor
espectandcar
e
 fort
heliv
esofothers.hi
sisasupr
ememanifest
ati
onofmatur
it
yinfait
h
becauseinr
ecognizi
ngtheli
fet
hatGodendowedus,weshowourbeingGods
famil
y.

Li
vet
otheFul
lest

 Manyofushat ealotoft
hingsi
nli
fe:obnoxi
oustr
affi
cjams,
irr
it
ati
onsf
rom
peopl
e,di
str
actingnewit
emsandthel i
stgoeson.Atti
mes,t
heymakeourli
fe
miser
ablesothatsomeofusmaysi mplycurseMing.

 Maybebecausewebel
iev
eweneedabet
terwor
ld.Ort
hatwear
enotas
f
ort
unateasthosewhohavemor
einl
i
fe.

 Trueenough, eachofuswant sagoodl if

e.Anditi
sachievable,
onlythatwehave
notlookeddeeperintowhatwehav egonethroughpl
uswhatwest il
lhavetogo
throughwiththecorr
ectatti
tude,i
tiseasytoseewhatbl essi
ngswehav e
receivedamidstdepressi
ngreali
ti
es.Thatli
fewilbegoodf oraslongaswesee
God'sgoodnessshoul dbeourleadt hought
.

TOPI
C2

Heal
th&Wel
lness

Theol
ogi
cal
Foundat
ion

Humanl i
fei
ssacredbecausefr
om t
hebeginningiti
nvol
vesthecreat
iveacti
onofGod
anditr
emainsfor
everinaspeci
alr
elat
ionshi
pwi t
hthecreat
or,whoisitssol
eend.
(CCC2258)

Heal
thandWel
lnessasOurResponsi
bil
it
y

 Sincelif
eissacred,
weareboundt ocaref ori
tandanythi
ngwedot hatt
hreatens
l
ifeisnothinglesst
hanir
responsi
ble.Butwhil
emur derandotheracti
ons
destructi
vetolif
eareobv
iouslyvi
olat
ingthefi
fthcommandment ,alotofpeopl e
cl
oset heireyestot
heneglectofhumanheal t
hasifitwerecasuall
yacceptable.

 Thi
siswher
eweshouldtakeast and.Chri
sti
ansshouldrecogni
zethehuman
bodyast
empleoft
heHol ySpi
ri
t.Actsandpr act
icest
hatweakenortendto
weakent
hebodydi
srespectGod,thegiverandownerofthetemple.
Heal
thyLi
vi
ngandLi
fest
yle

 Muchhasbeent oldabouthealthpracti
cessinceourchildhood:goodfood,plent
y
ofexerci
seandsleep,andregularmedicalcheck-up.Butagreatmajorit
yof
peopletodayl
ookdownont heserecommendat ionsasmer ekidstuf
f,andprefer
ali
festyl
eofhedonist
ic(i
.e.Pl
easure-seeki
ng)colorasitis"i
n"andfaddish.

 Thus,wecommonl yseemal eandfemaleemployeesorstudentsinposhand

urbani
zedareastakingasti
ckortwoofcigar
ett
esduringtheirbreakt
ime.This
conti
nuesdespit
et heworl
dwideawarenesscampaignagainstlungcancer(at
ri
skareevenpassiveornon-smokers)andot
herdangersoftobaccosmoki ngto
thebody.

 Sleepinglat
eandshor tisnotlimit
edtowor kahol
icsnowaday s.Peoplechooseto
spendhour sinparti
es,drinki
ngsprees,
comput ershops,gambl i
ngdensandt he
l
ike,whilefor
getti
ngt orestthei
rbodytorecuperatefr
om spentener gyi
nwor k.
"Gimik"and"happening"hav ebecomecommont ermsf orl
eisurethatoft
enturn
tocorporealabuse.

 Inthepast,drugaddict
ionisident
if
iedwi t
ht hedespondentmember sofour
societyonl
ythatiswhyt hei
rrehabi
li
tati
onwoul drequireisolati
onandint
ensi
ve
ref
or m.Thesetimes,parti
esandgat her
ingsoftheeliterevell
ersarenot
compl et
ewithout"E"(orEcst
f acy)orcoca( cocai
ne),somet hingtheypl
aceabov
e
theslummy( pang-squatt
er)shabuandRugbyshoegl ue.

 Healt
hiswealth,say
sanol ddictum.Ifweval
ueourwel l
ness,wear enot
supposedtoSquanderit
.Infact,iti
simper
ati
vethatwepur suemor estudiesfor
bett
ernutr
it
ion,moreconvenientworkout
sandmor epotentbutlessrisky
medici
nesinordertomaintai
nl i
feandevenprol
ongit.Thecontr
ar yonlyleadsto
waste.

Wel
l-
Bei
ngnotGoodLooki
ng

 Tolookniceandnormalisadream f
orandtohavephysi
cal
defect
sisevery
one,
undesi
rable.Ther
eisnot
hingwrongifamanbornwit
hharel
ipwouldaspi
refor
i
tscorr
ectiontoavoi
dthemiseryofl
ivi
ngwi
thit.

 Heal
thi
snotamat t
erofgoodappear
ancet
houghespeci
all
yifwet
alkabout
t
otal
wel1-bei
ng,
physi
calandmental
.

 Manypeopl
etodayar
edesir
ing,ifnotobsessedwit
h,l
ookst
hatappr
oxi
mate
t
hoseofmovie/
TVpersonal
i
ties.Theyarewi l
l
ingt
ospendalott
oacqui
ref
air
 andfl
awlessski
n,fashionabl
ehai
rstyle,
whist
lebaitfi
gureandtheli
kebywayof
cosmeti
cdrugs,surgeryandsimi
l
arinter
venti
on.Thistheydotothedetr
imentof
thebody
.Asecondl ookatthi
spract
icerev
ealsami sprior
it
yofpeoplef
orskin-
deepgoalsi
nlif
e.

Di
gni
tyi
nBei
ngHeal
thy

 Wel l
-ci
rculatedmessageent i
tl
ed"Dial
oguewithGod"mentionsonebi gi
rony
today :
Thatmenspendmostoft heirt
imetoearnmoneyandf orgetthewell
-
beingoft heirbody,andtowardstheendofthei
rli
fet
imetheyspendmostoft hei
r
moneyt orecoverthelostheal
thofthei
rbody.Thi
sisdef
initel
ynotthekindof
stewar dshipthatGodrequir
esus.

 Ourdigni
tyi
nbeingt
henobl
estcreatur
eoneart
hstemsfor
m ourabil
i
tyt
obe
wit
hGodi nouri
deal
sandpract
ices.Caref
ort
hebodyshoul
dbeat oppr
ior
it
yfor
Chri
sti
ans.Negl
i
genceofi
tisunchri
sti
an.

TOPI
C3

I
SSUESANDPROBLEMSONHUMANLI
FE

Theol
ogi
cal
Foundat
ion

Fory
ourl
if
ebl
oodIwil
lsurel
yr equi
rear
eckoni
ng.
..whoev
ershedst
hebloodofman,by
manshal
lhi
sbloodbeshed;forGodmademani nHisownimage(Genesi
s9:5-
6).

Donotsl
ayt
hei
nnocentandt
her
ight
eous.(
Exodus23:
7)

 Humanl if
ebei ngsacredshoul
dnotbedi spensedwithnopersonhast heri
ghtto
doso, f
orev erylostl
i
femeansal osst
ohi slovedones,ani
nterr
uptionofhis
eart
hlyexistenceandallofGod'
splansthatgowi t
hit,andaterminati
onitnot
tot
aldestructionofatempleoftheHolySpiri
t.

 Act
ionsorpract
icesthatr
elat
etoendi
ngorr
uini
nghumanl
i
teshoul
dther
efor
e
besubj
ecttomor alscr
uti
ny.
Thef
oll
owi
ngar
esomeoft
hosei
ssues:

1.MURDER

 Deli
berateki
ll
ingi
swr ongwhet heri
tbeofanotherper
son(homicide,i
fnot
i
ntenti
onal),
ofoneself(sui
cide)orofmany(genoci
de).I
nsuici
de,theoff
ender
oft
enmi ssesthefactthatt
hei mpactr
eacheseventhepeopl
ear oundandnot
onl
yhimsel f
.

 Thus,
iti
sasoci
alcr
ime.I
nsel
f-
defense,
theaggressor'
sdeat
hisaccept
ableonl
y
i
ftheper
sondef
endi
nghimsel
fhasnootherrecoursebutt
okil
lhi
sassail
ant.

2.ABORTI
ON

 Af et
usisadef ensel
essperson,r
egardlessofitsappearanceandcondit
ionsof
pregnancy.All
meansshoul dbetakent oprotectit
,andevent heStat
ePoli
ciesof
thePhil
ippineconsti
tut
ionarebehi
ndt his(1987-Sect
ions11-12).

CONTRACEPTI
ONMETHODS
 Condom  Contr
acept
ive  Cal
endarr
hyt
hm
i
nject
ion method
 Femal
econdom
 Sur
gical
ster
il
izat
ion  Vagi
nal
douche
 Or
alcont
racept
ion
 I
mpl
ant  Cont
racept
ivepat
ch
 Hor
monal
ring
 Coi
tusi
nter
rupt
us  Di
aphr
agm/
cap
 UI
D

Cont
racept
ion

 ameanst opr eventthemeet i

ngofthesperm cel
landeggcel l
isastepaway
fr
om abort
ion.Inpr i
ncipl
e,apotent
ialhumanlif
eisstopped,herei
nfrom
becomingone.Thesper m andtheeggpossesscharacter
ist
icsoftwohuman
parent
ssot hereisnoquest i
ontothepossibi
li
tyofahumanof f
spri
ng

 Theintent
ionofavoi
dingpregnancyi
sther
efrom t
hestart
.Ifpr
egnancymakesit
thr
oughdespitecont
racept
ion,it
sagentwi
llt
akethenextstepwhichi
sabort
ion,
SaysSt.JohnChrysostom:"whydoyousowwher ethefi
eldiseagert
odest
roy
thefr
uit?
3.CAPI
TALPUNI
SHMENT

 Thecount
ryhast
akenbacki
tsst
andondeat
hpenal
ty.Thetr
uthi
sdet
errence
fr
om cr
imesdoesnothol
dmuchwatert
opushf
orexecuti
onofcr
imi
nals.

 Chr
ist
iansbel
i
evethatt
heydeserv
eachanceforr
efor
m,consi
der
ingt
hatmany
oft
hem arevi
cti
msofsoci
alcir
cumst
ances.

4.MUTI
LATI
ONANDTORTURE

 Whetheri
nfl
ictedaspenal
tyortradit
ionalpracti
ce,r
uini
ngthebodybypai nor
dismembermentisinhuman.Asf orwil
lfulorgandonati
onnobi
li
tyisindicat
ed.
Butsal
eofor ganforsi
mplegainsremai nstobedesireespeci
all
yli
gationand
vasect
omy(meansofst er
il
izat
ionaref ormsofmut il
ati
onmaking.

5.EXTREMESPORTS

 Thefi
fthcommandmentfor
bidsexposuretoli
fe-
endangeri
ngacti
vi
ti
eslike
skydi
vi
ngandbungeejumpi
ngparti
cularl
yifdonewit
houtanysubli
mer eason.
Thesearenot
hingbutf
ool
hardyhobbiesthatt
auntdisast
eranddeath.

6.EUTHANASI
A

 Noonehast her
ighttoterminat
eli
fej
usttoeaseunbear
abl
esuff
eri
ngsof
another
.Thewordwast hetakenfr
om Greekt
erms“eu”meani
nggoodand
“Thanat
os”meaningdeath.

 Buteut
hanasi
aormercykil
l
ingi
snotgooddeat
h,t
husnotaccept
able.I
fthe
per
sonasksfori
t,t
heactamountst
osuici
demaki
nguseofanotherperson.

 TheChur ch,however,
all
owst heunpluggi
ngofapparatusthatsustain
sophist
icatedmedicalcomatoseexistent
.Thi
slastgestureevenallevi
atesthe
decencyofl i
feoft
her el
ati
veswhoar eenduri
ngthebur denofexpensesf orthe
pati
ent.

7.CLONI
NG

 Thewordrefer
stothereproduct
ionofabei
ngwiththeuseofDNAtakenfrom
anot
herofit
skind.Abreakthr
oughcamefrom aBri
ti
shexper
imentwherei
na
l
ambwasgr ownf r
om aDNAofanewe' sbreast
.

 HumanbeingsShouldbeexcl
udedf
rom t
hese,
becauseGodor
dai
nedadef
ini
te
mannerofprocr
eat
ionbymaleandfemal
e.
  Cloningisasexual oragametic,
acompl etedepar
tur
efr
om thenatur
alori
ginof
l
ife.Stem cel
ls,growingorgansort i
ssuesfr
om humansourcesl
if
efetuses,ar
ea
diff
erentstor
y .I
fdonef ort
hepur posesofli
fe-
savi
ngorl
if
eenhancement
research,t
heChur challowsit.

8.I
VF

 I
nVi
tr
oFer
ti
li
zat
ion(
IVF)

 Arti
fici
alFert
il
izat
ionBabiesbornf
rom i
nvit
ro(
Testtube)f
ert
il
izat
ionarethe
resultofactsthatsubsti
tut
etheGodordai
nedconj
ugalact
.Saidactsshouldbe
excludedfrom theChrist
ianmoral
order
.

 Conj
ugalactistheconsummati
onofChri
sti
anmarri
agerootedi
nthe
Complementarit
yofmanandwomanwhoar ebot
hwill
i
ngtosharethei
rent
ir
e
l
if
eandtoelev at
etheacttoasacr
amentorcommunionoflove

TOPI
C4

THEROLEOFSPI
RITUALI
TYI
NHUMANLI
FE

Bi
bli
cal
Foundat
ion

Windthespi
ri
tisl
i
kenedas“
asoundf
rom heav
enl
i
ket
her
ushofami
ght
ywi
nd”(
Act
s
2:
2-4)

 I
tdi
scussest
her
efor
etheHol
ySpi
ri
tthatgi
vesusal
way
sli
fe.

 Accordi
ngtothenominaldefi
nit
ionbysynonymsthatHol
ySpi ri
tisalsoknown
asHolyGhostmeansWi ndorbreathandbynominaldefi
nit
ionbyet ymology,
it
camef r
om t
heGreekwor d"Pneuma"thati
tisbei
ngused385t i
mesi ntheNew
Testament
.Iti
sbasi
call
yusedPneumaaswi ndorbreat
hest hattendstousto
becomeholy.

 Thi
sr ol
eofSpi
ri
tual
i
tyi
nhumanl i
fe,
theli
fe-styl
eandpract
icesofChrist
ian
vi
rt
uesmustbeembodiedineachbeli
everthroughsacraments,
personalpray
er,
whichcont
ri
but
et ot
heri
chnessofmini
steri
al act
ion.

 Thev er
yconf
ormi
tytoChri
strequir
esonetoBreat
he,
sotospeak,
inacli
mateof
fr
iendshi
pandper
sonalencounterwit
htheLor
dandinser
vicet
otheChurch,
His
 body
,forwhi
cht
hemi
nist
erofChr
istshowsHi
sdi
vi
nel
ove.

 I
tisnecessar
yther
efor
e,t
hatt
hemi
nist
erort
hepr
iestpr
ogr
amshi
sli
feofpr
ayer
t
hroughthefol
lowi
ngit
ems:

1.At
tendi
ngt
hecel
ebr
ati
onoft
heHol
yEuchar
ist

2.Fr
equenti
ngt
hesacr
amentofConf
essi
onorr
econci
l
iat
ionandspi
ri
tual
di
rect
ion

3.Say
ingper
sonal
pray
erorment
alpr
ayer

4. Hav
ingt
heMar
iandev
oti
onsl
i
keHol
yRosar
yandot
herpi
ousexer
cises.

THESPI
RITUALI
TYANDSOCI
ALTRANSFORMATI
ON

 Thecar
eforspi
ri
tual
li
feshoul
dbef
eltasaj
oyf
uldut
yandar
ightoft
hef
ait
hful
.

 Therefor
e,l
ifei
sthegreat
estgi
ftthatGodhasgiv
enus,apr
eci
ousanddi
vi
negif
t
fr
om Godt hatwemustgivethefull
respect
.TheRomanCat
hol
icChur
chtr
uly
bel
ievesinthesanct
it
yofli
fe

 TheHolyChur
chteachesusthatnewl
i
festar
tsatt
hemomentofconcept
ionand
shoul
dendnatur
all
yonlywhenGodcall
susbacktoHi
m.

 Everyonei
sequalandhasrighttoli
fenomatt
erwhatcol
or,r
ace,
rel
i
gionorst
age
ofli
fetheyar
e.Iti
sther
efor
et hat,
spir
it
ual
i
tyi
sastateofyourmi
ndinwhichyou
beli
eveinacert
ainspi
ri
tual
concept .

Whati
sSpi
ri
tual
it
y?

 AccordingtoHoust onBaker(2010),spi
ri
tual
i
tyi
sspiri
tualworksthati
nvol
ves
prophecy,heal
ing,discer
nment;wri
terswhoexpressspiri
tual
i
tyinli
ter
atur
eal
so
passont hisspir
it
ualit
ytothei
rreaders.

 DonaMar i
mbaRi char
dsr el
atesspir
it
ual
i
tyinherbook,"Lett
heCi
rcl
ebe
Unbroken"(2011)
,asanimpl i
cati
onofAfri
canspi
rit
uali
tyint
heDi
aspor
athati
t
synchr
onizestotheAfri
canideaofaspiri
tual
i
tycenter
edcosmos.
  Furt
hermor e,
socialtr
ansformationofspi r
itual
it
yofhumanl i
fei
sapr ocessby
whichani ndi
vidual
alterst
hesoci all
yascribedsocialst
atusoft
heirparent
sint
o
asociall
yachievedstatusforthemsel v
esandconsi deredanint
erpersonal
negoti
ationbecauseitrequir
est hattheindivi
dualhasthei
rsoci
alpositi
on
val
idatedbyothers.

10TYPESOFBI
RTHCONTROL

1.CONDOMS

 About82%ef
fect
ive

 Asmall
,thi
npouchmadeofl
atex,
plast
ic,
orl
ambski
nthatcov
erst
he
man’
spenisdur
ingsex.

2.THESHOT

 Mor
ethan99%ef
fect
ive

 Abi
rt
hcont
rol
inj
ect
iony
ougetf
rom anur
seordoct
orev
ery3mont
hs

3.THEI
MPLANT

 Mor
ethan99%ef
fect
ive

 Atiny,
thi
nrodaboutt
hesi
zeofamatchsti
ckthatr
eleaseshor
monesi
nto
yourbodytopr
eventy
oufr
om get
ti
ngpregnant

4.THEI
NTRAUTERI
NEDEVI
CE(
IUD)

 Mor
ethan99%ef
fect
ive

 At
inydev
icemadeoff
lexi
blepl
ast
ict
hat
’si
nser
tedi
nyourut
erus

5.THEPI
LL

 About91%ef
fect
ive

 Akindofmedi
cinewi
thhor
monest
haty
out
akeev
erydayt
opr
event
pr
egnancy
 6.EMERGENCYCONTRACEPTI
ONaka“
Mor
ning-
Aft
erPi
ll
”

 Upt
o89%ef
fect
ive(
mustbet
akenwi
thi
n72hour
saf
terunpr
otect
edsex

 Asaf
ewayt
opr
eventpr
egnancyaf
terunpr
otect
edsex

OTHERMETHODSOFBI
RTHCONTROL

7.THEPULL-
OUTMETHOD

 75%t
o80%ef
fect
ive

 Whenamanpul
l
shi
speni
soutoft
hev
agi
nabef
oreej
acul
ati
on

8.CALENDARMETHOD

 75%t
o80%ef
fect
ive

 Wheny
ouchar
tyourcy
cleonacal
endarandt
racky
ourov
ulat
ion

9.CERVI
CALMUCUSMETHOD

 Theef
fect
ivenessi
stoodi
ff
icul
ttodet
ermi
ne

 Whenyoucheckthechangesinyourcer
vical
mucusev
ery
dayf
ort
hef
ir
st
par
tofyourcy
cleunt
ilyou’
veovul
ated

 Si
cknessorv
agi
nali
nfect
ionscanal
tert
hemucus’
appear
ance

10.
TEMPERATUREMETHOD

 75%t
o80%ef
fect
ive

 Wheny ourecor
dyourt
emper
atur
eint
hemor
ningev
erydaybef
orey
ou
getoutofbed

10MOSTBRUTALTORTUREMETHODS

1.NECKLACI
NG

 I
sahor r
if
ictor
tur
ethati
nvol
vesfor
cingar
ubberti
re,
fil
l
edwit
h
gasol
i
near oundofvi
cti
mschestandarmsandthensetti
ngi
nonf
ir
e
  Thevi
cti
m mayt
akeupt
o20mi
nut
est
odi
esuf
fer
ingsev
erebur
nsi
n
thepr
ocess

 I
nSouthAfri
ca,
Nigeri
aandIndi
a,I
twasacommonsent
encecar
ri
ed
outbyangr
ymobst opuni
shsuspect
edt
hiev
esandr
api
stsi
nthe
1970sand80s

 Br
azi
l
iandr
ugl
ordsar
eal
soknownt
ohav
eneckl
acet
hei
renemi
es

 Mostnotori
ousl
y,thejour
nali
stTim Lopezin2002aft
erhewas
ki
dnappedbylocaldrugdealer
s,hishands,ar
msandl egswere
sever
edwithhisswordwhilesti
llal
ive.Theyt
henstuf
fedhisbodyi
n
gasol
inefi
l
ledti
resandsetitonfire

2.THERACK

 Thebonesnappi
ngl
i
gamentt
ear
ingt
ort
uredev
ice

 Oneofmedi
eval
Eur
ope’
sfav
ori
tei
nter
rogat
ionpl
atf
orms

 Essenti
all
y,iti
sat abl
ethathastworoll
ersoneit
hersi
de,t
hevi
cti
m’s
anklesarefastenedtooneroll
erandthewrist
sarechai
nedtot
he
other

 Ahandl
eandrat
chetmechani
sm at
tachedtooneoftherol
lersi
sused
togr
adual
l
yincr
easet
hetensi
onont hechai
nsinduci
ngexcruci
ati
ng
pai
n

 Ov
ert
imet
hesuf
fer
er’
sjoi
ntsar
edi
slocat
edandev
ent
ual
l
ysepar
ated

 Onehor r
if
yingaspectofthistort
urei
sheari
ngtheloudpoppingnoises
madebysnappi ngcarti
lage,l
igamentsorbones.Musclesare
stret
chedtothepointthattheyloset
heabil
it
ytocontract,
render
ing
them usel
ess

3.RATI
NABUCKET

 Ratswil
ldoanyt
hingt
oescapeanuncomfort
abl
esit
uati
onand
tor
tur
ersusethi
sknowledget
othei
radv
antagei
nthei
rsick
exper
iments

 Apott
erybowl
fil
l
edwi
thr
atsar
epl
acedopensi
deonanakedbodyof
apr
isoner

 Redhotchar
coal
sar
ethepi
l
ed-
ont
opoft
hebowl
eff
ect
ivel
yheat
ing
 upthepotandmaki
ngitunbear
abl
efort
herat
s.Therat
sonlywayout
i
st ognawint
othev
eryvowelsoft
hevi
cti
minanattemptt
oescape
theheat

 Inonedocument edoccasi
ondur i
ngtheDut chRev ol
tinthe16th
century,
apr i
sonerofwarenduredthi
st ort
ureaftertherat
sate
throughhisfl
eshandscratchedathisintest
ines.Thehotcoalswer
e
theninsert
edintohisst
omachscol di
nghi sint
ernalorgans

4.HEADCRUSHER

 Adevicethatcl
ampsdownont hevi
cti
m’sheadsmashingitbet
weena
metalpl
ateinaroundedir
oncapastheexecut
ionergr
aduall
ytwi
stt
he
handl
e.Thev i
cti
m’sskul
li
ssl
owlycrushed

 Bonefragment
sfrom t
heskul
lcanpunctur
ethebr
aincausi
ng
spont
aneousspasmsandbrai
nhemor r
hage

 I
fthepersoninf
li
cti
ngthepai
nwantstotor
mentt
hepri
sonereven
fur
ther,
hecouldstr
iket
hemetalcapwit
hanir
onrodsendi
ngechoing
pai
nt hr
oughoutt
heperson’
sbody

 Inmostcases,thevict
imi
skil
l
edbutnotbef
oret
hejawhadbeen
crushedandtheirey
eshadpoppedf
rom t
hei
rsocket
s

5.TUCKERTELEPHONE

 El
ectroshockappar
atususedi
nArkansasTuckerst
atepr
isonint
he
1960sand1970s.Inmatedoct
orswouldusethist
ort
uredevi
ceon
unrul
yprisoner
s

 Thedeiceworkedbypl
acingagr
oundwi
rear
oundthebigtoeofa
pri
sonerwhi
leclampi
ngthehotwir
etot
heperson’
sgeni
tals

 Thewi r
eswerethenhookeduptoatelephonethathadbeenmodi
fi
ed
tosendelect
ri
cshockasthephonewasbei ngcrankedpi
erci
ng
elect
ri
calcur
rent
sweresentthr
oughoutthepri
soners

 Inprisonsl
ang,
along-di
stancecal
lwasaseri
esofelectr
icshocksi
na
row.Anyinmatethatpassedoutfr
om t
heexperi
encewouldbe
splashedwit
hcoldwaterandshockedagai
nint
ensif
yingtheagony
6.GERMANCHAI
R

 Si
mi l
artotherack,i
tisafor
m oft
ort
ureof
tenusedbyt
heSy
rian
governmentagainstt
herebel
s

 Whenadetai
neei
scaptur
ed,t
heyarepl
acedinamet al
chair
.Thei
r
l
egsandar
mswer esecur
edtotheseat
,whi
lethebackofthechai
ris
pul
l
edbackanddowntotheground.

 Thiscausessev
erestr
essont
hespi
ne,
neckandot
herl
i
mbof
ten
causi
ngpermanentdamage

 Onemanwhomanagedt oescapet
heSy r
iantort
urecel
l,cl
aimthat
theystri
ppedhim nakedandhunghim upsidedowninthechairfor8-
12hour sadayfor4day s.Hesays,
thepainwassoexcr uci
ati
ngt hat
hebeggedhi scaptorst
okill
him.Hestil
lhasuncontr
oll
abletwit
ching
asar esul
tofthetort
ure.

7.FLAYI
NG

soknownasSKI
 Al NNI
NG

 I
tisanol
dtor
tur
ethatdat
esbackt
o883BC.

 Iti
nvol
vesdif
fer
entmet
hodst
oremov
etheski
nfr
om t
hev
ict
im’
s
enti
rebody

 Themostcommonf orm off

lay
ingi
stouseakni
fei
nser
ti
ngthesharp
bl
adejustbel
owthechi
n.Thecutsst
artatt
hef
aceandworkal
lthe
waydownt othet
oes.

 Insomecases, t
heski
nwouldbet akenoffi
nsmallsect
ionsandbe
perfor
medslowlyunti
lcompl
etelydone.What’
slef
tisastil
ll
iving
personwithexposedmuscl
es,l
igamentsandbonesbutthef aceski
ns
sti
l
l i
ntact
.

 Apersoncoul
dli
veaf
ewhour
supt
oadayaf
tert
heski
nremov
al
pr
ocess.

 Anothermethodi
nvol
vedbei
ngsev
erel
ysunbur
nedandt
henhav
ing
theskinpeel
edof
f.

 Lastly,
capt
iveswouldbeplacedi
nlar
gecaul
dronswit
honlytheirhead
sti
ckingout.Thenhotscal
dingwat
eroroi
lwouldbepour
edinside
boil
ingthei
rskinaway.
8.I
MPALEMENT

 Wasandi
soneofthemostgruesomeway sofdy
ingimaginabl
ethe
ar
msandlegsar
estr
appedtothegroundbypegsrender
ingtheper
son
i
mmobil
e

 Alar
geoiledwoodenstakeisgraduall
yfor
cedi
ntothebodyusual
l
y
i
ntotheanus.Theymadesur et
hatthestakewasn’
ttooshar
pforthe
vi
cti
m mightdi
etoorapidl
yfrom shock.

 Ther
ewer
emanyinstanceswherevi
cti
mswereimpal
edt
hroughot
her
bodi
l
yor
if
iceswor
ethroughtheabdomenorchest
.

 I
nfantswer esometi
mesimpaledont hest
akefor
cedthr
oughthei
r
mothers’chestswhent
hepolewast henrai
sedupri
ghtt
hevi
cti
m was
l
efttosli
dedownt hepol
ewiththei
rownwei ght

 I
tcoul
dtaket
hev
ict
im upt
o3day
stosl
owl
ydi
e

 Thi
smethodoftor
tur
edatesbackt
o1772BC,
butwasmadef
amous
t
h
by15 cent
uryRomanianVl
adTheImpal
er

 Br am Stoker
’s1897novelDracul
a,wasinspi
redbyVl
ad’snameand
reputati
on.Recordedi
nstancesofimpal
ementareasrecentas1919
duringtheArmenianGenocide

9.BRAZENBULL

 Ananci
entGreekt
ort
uredev
icet
hatal
sodoubl
edasadement
ed
musi
cali
nstr
ument

 Nakedvi
ctimswerepl
acei nsideofalar
gehall
owbr assBowl
st at
ue.In
mostcases,t
hepri
soner’
st ongueiscutoutwit
hsharpmetalshears
bef
orebeingshov
edintotheempt ybovinest
atue.

 Thetor
turerswouldthenli
ghtf
ir
esunderneat
hthebowl
andbur
nthe
per
soninsideal
ive,r
aisi
ngtheheatgr
aduall
y.

 ThescreamsoftheBull
soccupantcoul
dn’
tbehear
dbecauset
het hi
ck
metalcast
ingact
edasasoundbar r
ier
.Theonl
yopeni
ngwasthrough
theBull
smouththatl
etoutsmokefrom t
heper
sons
 TOPIC 1

ECOLOGICAL BALANCE

Theological Foundation

• This one true God, of His own goodness and Almighty power, not for increasing His own
beatitude, nor for attaining His perfection, but in order to manifest this perfection through the
benefits which He bestowed on creatures, with absolute freedom of counsel and from the
beginning of time, made out of nothing both orders of creatures, the spiritual and the corporeal.
(Dei Filius)

The Role of Man in Ecology

• We believe that God created the universe according to His wisdom. He made all things and
beings out of nothing, and this sets Him apart from an artisan who fabricates something from
some pre-existing material.

7 days of Creation

Day 1 - Light Day 5 - Birds & sea animals

Day 2 -Atmosphere/Firmament Day 6 - Land animals& humans

Day 3 - Dry ground & plants Day 7 - The Sabbath of rest

Day 4 - Sun, moon & stars

• He is too powerful and wise that He thought of all things that will make the whole creation
complete, balanced and orderly. In particular, at the moment of creation, He thought of all
things that will be of service and function to His greatest creature, man.
• For if man the work of creation bearing God's image and likeness, will attain glorification and
perfection through the use of these other creatures God his Creator will ultimately be glorified.
• Briefly, God and man's relation and final union will be accomplished with the help of creation,
an essential gift to man.
• From those statements above, we conclude that creation is God's act of love for mankind. It is
not meant to perfect Himself because He is already perfect but it manifest His perfection that
man will have a model of his own perfection.
• To reach his own perfection, man is expected to Sustain balance in the great creation and even
produce improvement in himself and in the environment as a way to follow the example of his
Creator.
• Man is created to be the steward of creation, and this means he will supervise God's creation to
the best of his ability.
 • In the end, God will evaluate him on his pertormance as regards his stewardship of creation
along with his care for himself and his fellow human beings.
• This will be the final measure as to whether he made good with God's gifts or not.
• With ecology (oikos =household; logos =Study), we are taught the way to that good.
• Through developments in civilization man has acquired concepts other that raised his life
standards.
• He has learned among other things, the practice of business and ownership.
• These two have been instrumental in improving man's status materially and socially.
• On account of business, man has explored the natural resources and converte in them to various
merchandise that eventually yielded earnings and wealth. Ownership, on the other hand, has
opened possibilities of private control and disposition over lands and other resources so they
would yield for man riches and more resources.
• The right to private ownership acquired or received in a just way, does not do away with the
original gift of the earth to the whole of mankind. The universal destination of goods remains
primordial, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for the right and its
exercises. (CCC 2403)
• If properly is held from God in stewardship, everything that exists belongs to the Lord, who has
placed Is in charge to manage them it for Him. We must use things responsibly in ways that
glorify Him, not just in any way we please Stewardship requires that a person take care of his
family's needs first, and use the excess of need for the good of others, who in fraternal charity
have a right to what is left over.
• People we obliged to use their belongings to help those in need as much as what is possible and
reasonable. Man who act contrary to this are violating the seventh ( Thou shall not steal ) or the
tenth commandment (Thou shall not covet thy neighbour's goods - Exodus 20:17)

The following are manifestation of these violations:

1. Exploitation of Nature
• A lot of people resort to quick way of production that disregard stewardship of nature.
• They chop down trees from rainforests and mountains to give way to logging, kaingin (slash
and burn farming and the like.
• Others blast mountains and leave toxic wastes on fresh- water bodies while searching for
mines and precious metals.
• Often, the exploited nature would be left without getting mended or replaced. Often,
nature gets back at us through catastrophes.

2. Destruction of Aquatic Resources

 Instead of being grateful to nature however, fisherman resort to dynamite, trawling, illegal gill-net,
electrocution and cyanide fishing. They also gather mangrove (spawning areas for fishes), corals,
and various aquarium stuff. The aquatic resources get depleted consequentially.
 3. Indiscriminate Developmental Projects

• Several projects made way through nature in the name of development: dams for hydroelectric
plants and irrigations, highways across forests and mountains, sky scrapers and other
infrastructure, and many more.
• These should be appreciated as signs of progress if not for their disregard for and unnecessary
sacrifice of ancestral lands and other forms of nature. Other projects like nuclear plants lie
innocently productive, always with suspected threats to life and but civilization.

4. Pollution

Types of Pollution
1. Air pollution
• Chemicals are released into their through harmful gases, burning of fuels, and other by
products of modern human life.
• Polluted air can impede breathing and cause many serious diseases in humans and animals.
2. Land pollution
• Waste materials produced by humans are left to accumulate on the Earth's surface. Many
chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, are absorbed into soil.
• Ingestion of waste can injure or poison animals. Chemicals can also enter the soil and be
absorbed by plants or leech into the water supply.
3. Noise pollution
• Humans produce excessive amounts of loud noise, including industrial and vehicle sources.
• Excessive noise in the environment can interfere with animal communication. It can also
harm animals that rely on sound for navigation or hunting.
4. Water pollution
• Toxins from human and industrial waste are introduced into our water supplies.
• Water can be a medium for many pathogens. It can cause disease when consumed by
humans and animals.
5. Light pollution
• Humans produce excessive amounts of artificial light that interferes with natural cycles of
light and darkness in the environment.
• Artificial light can confuse nocturnal animals and animals which hunt at night or rely on the
stars for navigation.

Being clean is equivalent to being orderly and natural, for filth and dirt violate the orderly nature of
environment.

Through the years, waste mismanagement has been a problem which even leads to s: floods, diseases,
distortion of ecosystem, etc
 5. Extinction of Species

• Hunting animals for food and clothing in prehistoric times was an activity for human survival.
• Nowadays, this has become a mere hobby that threatens animal survival Extinction commonly
results from excessive killing of animals species that are not necessarily brought down for meals;
many of them are stuffed by taxidermists, skinned for fashionable apparel, poached for their
horns, or dentures or what not, or caught and sold for pets, displays or shows.

Extinct Animals: Mammoth, Glyptodon, Tasmanian, Saber toothed tiger, Dodo bird.
Extinct Animals Of North America: Western Camel, American Lion, Ancient Bison, Mastodon,
Columbia Mammoth, Short-faced Bear, Saber-tooth Cat, Hagerman Horse, Dire Wolf, Jefferson's
Ground Sloth.

6. Global Warming and Ozone Depletion

• If we are still using aerosol perfumes and sprays, junk our old refrigerators and air conditioner
carelessly, avoid reforestation and similar corrective measures then we would be guilty of
contributing to the slow but-sure annihilation of the planet.
• These first two errors are the direct causes of the hole in the ozone layer (our natural protection
from cancer-causing ultraviolet rays). The last one gives way to the increasing concentration of
carbon dioxide and other gases in our atmosphere, thereby causing unpredictable irregularities
in our climate and weather condition. Clearly, we are victims of our own malpractices.

Common Good and Technology

• God is the ultimate environmentalist, man just learns from Him.
• With the gift of intellect and wisdom from God, man has achieved wonders of science and
technology: cell phones and I-pods, computers with internet, household appliances, office and
work equipment, life and health support systems, and other unprecedented items that make
existence convenient and pleasant.
• If we could look in the past when these inventions were not yet around, life was comparably
slow and tedious.
• Unfortunately, the inventions that should make mankind enjoy life are the same objects that
would enslave him.
• Just to wit, more men are inclined to internet browsing of U-tube and downloaded materials
than reading more reliable books and classical library stuff.
• Fast food meals are preferred to home cooked menu, CAD designs have replaced manual
architectural concepts, snail mail has been trashed by text messaging and e-mail, plus a lot more.
• ( 1956 - 3.75 MB ; Now - 1,000,000 MB )
• Technology is obviously a mere tool for human development and a subservient contributor for
the common good. It should be treated as an instrument, not a master of human appetite and
decisions. If it becomes an oppressive dictator of what we do, we become idolaters of
technology.
TOPIC 2 : SPECIAL ISSUES IN ECOLOGY

Theological Foundation

Do not start worrying: “where will my food come from? Or my drink? Or my clothes? These are
the things the pagans are always concerned about. Your father in heaven knows that you need all these
things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the kingdom of God and with all He requires of
you, and He will provide you with all these other things. So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have
enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.”

-Matthew 6: 31-34

Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

• Identify and understand issues in ecology;

• Show willingness to take a stand on these issues; and
• Harmonize themselves with the environment, as God meant them to be.

POPULATION VS. ECOLOGY

In 1798, an English clergy man by the name of Thomas Robert Malthus theorized that at the rate
we are going there will come a time that the growth of population will be faster than the rate of food
and basic-resources production. It will be a dreaded time because famine, pestilence and violent
competition will reign then.

To avert this, he recommended checking the population growth by means of family planning
and contraception. Until recently, a lot of people including Reproductive Health law subscribers, use the
Malthusian doctrine to push for demographic reforms.

The truth is population explosion amidst poverty and illiteracy is alarming. But to trim
population is such a drastic and mindless solution, as it evades the actual reasons behind human
sufferings.

Poverty is not a consequence of population growth, for the most populous states like the USA
and China are definitely the most progressive ones. In the same breath, the countries of smallest
population density like African nations are most impoverished. These comparisons clearly demonstrate
the error of Malthus and his followers.

People go hungry and uneducated because certain countries mismanage the policies and
resources that should cater to public services and common good. Corrupt systems open the floodgates
for unemployment, crimes, illiteracy, unnecessary migration to urban centers, poor urban planning and
other forms of injustices. Many remain wanting and unsatisfied because they are deprived of what
should be theirs, not because there are too many of them.

We know from the past lesson that we have a world of abundance. The earth teems in resources
and nobody will go poor and hungry if only these resources are administered according to God’s will.
 Once we resign to the idea that the world is no longer capable of feeding and clothing and
sheltering us all, we are likewise admitting that we despite God’s grace and benevolence, can no longer
produce enough that wrong admission will lead us to conclude that life, God’s greatest gift to us on
earth.

Overconsumption VS Destruction

Pursuing the Malthusian creed, the earth's population will reach a point of overconsumption while
continuously destroying the resources of the planet. This is partly true because men today are obsessed
with activities that lead accumulation of economic resources with total disrespect to God's creation.
Many of those activities have been enumerated in the previous topic.

Nature and the whole of creation is our common backyard, nobody among us is its exclusive owner. If
one exploits nature more than what he actually needs, he already snatches the share of his co-owners.

Such is the case when loggers fell down trees without replacing them and in the process, reducing our
oxygen suppliers and water table that prevents floods. Or when poachers reduce to extinction certain
species that make them no longer available for the next generations. Clearly, these are crimes against
nature. But only until here can Malthus be cited as true.

In reality, there is more for everyone, if only we would be careful and caring with our surroundings. If we
take up reforestation, we should not have floods, extinction and other human-caused evils.

If we are clean and orderly, we defeat diseases. If we go back to agriculture and food production, we
would not have scarcity. In short, if we know how to handle God's grace, life will be in harmony.

Profit-Orientation VS. Common Good

Profit is a great invention of human economics. It rewards the risks taken by a businessman in his
ventures, but every reward is just only if it satisfies his effort without going overboard, that is, without
grabbing what is no longer his.
In today's multi-billion-dollar industries, profits come huge and unbelievable. These industries rake their
income, however, after levelling some mountains, denuding of some forests, nearly exhausting aquatic
resources, destroying some ancestral domains, weakening soil chemistry, polluting land and water and
air, emitting toxins and radioactive substances exporting human resources illegally and so forth.

Once again invoking common stewardship of creation, we conclude that many businessmen violate
what the creator has ordained for them, all in the name of profit.

But in exchange, rivers become polluted, mountains turn infertile and lifeless, and a lot of residents
particularly children, get sick or dying as a consequence of the mining operations. Even our
governmental projects fall under this offense against humanity. But moral law forbids acts which, for
commercial or totalitarian purposes, lead to the enslavement of human beings, or to their being bought,
sold or exchanged like merchandise.

Church and the State

Our good Mother on earth, the Catholic Church, is always practice on issues that concern human
welfare. The question of proper care for the environment is no exception. She is constantly reminding us
to see the work of creation and salvation as manifested in every form of human development, because
God will see us through in our accomplishments and help us avoid the evil repercussions of pride and
greed.

The State, as God-given institution, exercises its authority to propagate welfare among the people. It is
bound to make everyone of us happy and satisfied in the temporal order. But it sometimes may cross
the line and cause injury to individuals or groups while pursuing the desired welfare.

One case in point is when it constructs nuclear power plants that may endanger the populace, and when
it strongly motivates overseas employment for more dollar remittance but in the end degenerates our
family cohesiveness and contributes to the perennial brain-drain.

The Church must be in the forefront to inspire the State on what the citizens actually need. She should
also bring to the attention of our public servants some errant moves and perilous practices so that the
people are administered well. Teamwork between these two human institutions is expected to bring
forth a just and humane society.
Environmental Spirituality

Gaudium et Spes, an important Church document in 1965, points out a basic premise on what should be
our stand on human activities that involve our environment. Man's social nature makes it evident that
the progress of human person and the advance of society itself hinge on one another.

This line certainly points out that one cannot improve at the expense of another. Corollary, one cannot
get rich by exploiting a thing resulting in the impoverishment of another. As a confirmation of that
teaching, the Catechism of Catholic Church states. The goods of creation are destined for the human
race; the right to private property does not abolish the universal destination of goods.

Development is a goal that we pursue because we believe we deserve a better life. Nature and
technology are at our disposal to accomplish that end. Let us bear in mind that as we utilize things
around us for our improvement, we are also expected to be careful with them and to think that our
fellow human beings would like to use them as well.

This is an indirect way of saying that we respect and participate in the creative and salvific works of God
when we work out our welfare that should find its way in being with Him. If we are negligent and
indifferent, we become selfishly materialistic. We become worshippers of material development and
forget our neighbours and ultimately the Creator.

The Church makes a judgment about economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the
person or the salvation of souls requires it. She is concerned with the temporal common good of men
because they are ordered to the sovereign God (who is Himself) as their ultimate end. In our errors, that
include mishandling of material universe, God speaks through the Church to correct us.

Real Christians know how to practice social charity. But more than this, they live by the virtues of
temperance (the opposite of greed and covetousness) and justice (giving God and our fellowmen what is
due then).

Going one more step higher, they know when and what to give up for the glory of God. Such was the
example given by the saints, as they left life of affluence in order to serve God and others, like Francis of
Assissi and Jean Baptiste de La Salle. For more lasting than any worldly wealth is happiness in God's
kingdom.
And in the final analysis, the Lord is perfectly right when He said: What does it profit a man if he gains
the whole world, but in the end suffers the loss of his immortal soul?

Definition of Terms:

Ecological balance- dynamic equilibrium of

interrelationships between organisms and environment subject to natural or man -made changes.

Ecology - the study of environment, both natural and artificial. Ecosystem - community of living things
that live together in their environment and as they interact with non living elements.

Global warming irregular changes in climate of natural/artificial causes.

• Ozone - a tri-atomic oxygen allotrope that blocks ultraviolet rays.

• Pollution the act or result of dirtying the environment. Private property - individual ownership of a
part of creation.

• Social charity - friendship or solidarity shown by distribution of goods and remuneration of work.

• Stewardship God's entrusting of the world and its resources to mankind to care for it, master it by
labor and enjoy its fruits.

Universal destination of goods - term referring to giving of all resources of the world to all mankind, that
they should be used accordingly.