Servants in the Vineyard of the Lord - A Grave Moral Obligation

-link">society will find no solution to the ecological problem
As tenants and custodians of the world we have aunless it takes a serious look at its lifestyle.” We
responsibility to care for the environment especiallyshould not be content with merely voting for
when that environment directly affects our health.... Aenvironmental reform but we should take action to
Grave Moral Obligationbring it about in whatever small way is within our
As tenants and custodians of the world we have aimmediate control. Many of our daily activities involve
responsibility to care for the environment especiallychemicals that directly affect not just our overall
when that environment directly affects our health. Aenvironment but also our personal health in adverse
quick glance at our world will show that we haveways. What is surprising to find out is that using these
caused it to slide even from its fallen state. Much ofchemicals that cause cancer and other serious health
the damage done to the Lord’s vineyard hasproblems is completely voluntary and that there are
come out of the abuse of the earth’salternatives that are effective, affordable and
resources. Pope John Paul II taught us this in noconvenient. Choosing to make responsible use of the
uncertain terms and offered us a plan of action toearth’s resources in our own little corner of the
undo what can be undone, “Economic activityworld may seem small but their collective use by an
carries with it the obligation to use the goods of natureincreasing number of people is having an impact on our
reasonably. But it also involves the grave moralworld.
obligation both to repair damage already inflicted onOne of the many families that have taken to heart
nature and to prevent any negative effects, whichJohn Paul’s challenge to prevent and repair is
may later arise… especially in regard to toxicthe Bartel family. When the Bartel family discovered
residue.” This, he said is “the responsibility ofalternative products they switched out their entire
everyone,” and then continued, “I should like tohouse and even brought them to work. “Every time I
address directly my brothers and sisters in the Catholicuse these products, I am reminded that I am making a
Church, in order to remind them of their seriousdifference in the world in some small way and that it is
obligation to care for all of creation.” Ourpleasing to God,” explains Becca Bartel. This is right
responsibility to ensure the basic right for wellnesson track with how the Church and pope John Paul II
through a healthy environment is a now a matter ofview all material goods, “as God's gifts to us. They
repair and prevention, and the matter is a grave one.are meant to bring out in each one of us the image of
Certainly this responsibility is secondary to the threatGod.” As simple as it may be this is no small
against life as evidenced in issues like abortion andmessage that is entrusted to each individual family.
euthanasia, yet if we can do something to repair andAgain pope John Paul II explains, “An education in
prevent the ravages of toxic chemicals we should doecological responsibility is urgent… The first educator,
it. Otherwise by our indifference we cause thehowever, is the family, where the child learns to
suffering of others as well as ourselves. Taking Itrespect his neighbor and to love nature.” This can be
Personally - Lifestyle Changeone of those great daily opportunities to teach our
What can the average person do to repair thechildren about our faith because; by example we are
poisoned environment when the scale of it is soshowing them love of neighbor and God through the
grand? John Paul II gives us this direction, “Modernworld he created.