NationalCatholicReporter:Reader’sGuidetoLaudatoSi
(ThomasReese,“AReader’sGuideto‘LaudatoSi”publishedJune26,2015,NationalCatholic
Report,http://ncronline.org)[Questionsinbolditalicsarepossibleadditionaldiscussion
questionsdrawnfromotherdiscussionguideresources]
Theintroduction
Thepopebeginstheencyclicalbysummarizinghispresentationandcitingearlierpopesand
otherreligiousleaderswhohavespokenabouttheenvironment.HesaysSisterEarth"cries
outtousbecauseoftheharmwehaveinflictedonherbyourirresponsibleuseandabuseof
thegoodswithwhichGodhasendowedher."
Questions:
1 WherehaveyouseenharminflictedonSisterEarth(Paragraph2)?
2 WhydoyouthinkfewpeopleknewthatPaulVI,JohnPaulII,andBenedictXVIspoke
outonenvironmentalissues(4-6)?
3 St.FrancisofAssisihasbeencalledthepatronsaintoftheenvironment.Whatis
attractiveabouthim(10-12)?
4 PopeFrancisconcludeshisintroductionwithanappeal(13-16).Whatisyour
response?
Chapter1:Whatishappeningtoourcommonhome
PopeFrancisisafirmbelieverintheneedtogatherthefactsinordertounderstanda
problem.Chapter1presentsthescientificconsensusonclimatechangealongwitha
descriptionofotherthreatstotheenvironment,includingthreatstowatersuppliesand
biodiversity.Healsolooksathowenvironmentaldegradationhasaffectedhumanlifeand
society.Finally,hewritesabouttheglobalinequalityoftheenvironmentalcrisis.
Questions:
1 Howhaspollutionaffectedyouoryourfamilypersonally?
2 Whatdoesthepopemeanbya"throwawayculture"(22)?Doyouagreewithhim?
Why?
3 Whatdoesthepopemeanwhenhesays,"Theclimateisacommongood"(23)?
4 Whatistheevidencethatclimatechangeishappeningandiscausedbyhumanactivity
(23)?Whatwillbeitseffects?
5 Thepopesays"accesstosafedrinkablewaterisabasicanduniversalhumanright,"yet
manypoorpeopledonothaveaccesstoit(27-31).Whyisthis?Whatcanbedone?
6 Whydoesthepopethinkbiodiversityisimportant(32-42)?Whatarethethreatsto
biodiversity?
7 Whataretheeffectsonpeople'slivesofenvironmentaldeterioration,currentmodels
ofdevelopment,andthethrowawayculture(43-47)?
8 Whydoesthepopebelieve"wecannotadequatelycombatenvironmentaldegradation
unlessweattendtocausesrelatedtohumanandsocialdegradation"(48)?
9 Whydoesthepopethinkthatsimplyreducingbirthratesofthepoorisnotajustor
adequateresponsetotheproblemofpovertyorenvironmentaldegradation(50)?
10 "Atrue'ecologicaldebt'exists,particularlybetweentheglobalnorthandsouth,"the
popewrites(51).Whatdoeshemean?
11 Whydoesthepopethinktheresponsetotheworld'senvironmentalcrisishasbeen
weak(53)?
a. “Thecontinuedaccelerationofchangesaffectinghumanityandtheplanetis
coupledtodaywithamoreintensifiedpaceoflifeandworkwhichmightbecalled
‘rapidification,”PopeFrancissays.Inwhatwayshasyourlifeandyourfamilybeen
negativelyaffectedby“rapidification”?
b. Whyistheimpactofclimatechangedisproportionatelyfeltbythepoor?
c. Insomeplaces,waterisbecominga“commoditysubjecttothelawsofthemarket.”
WhydoesPopeFrancissaythatwatercannotbetreatedlikeothernatural
resources–availableforpurchaseforthosewhocanaffordit”?
d. Howdoesout“throwawayculture”contributetofeelingsofhopelessnessinthe
faceofourenvironmentalproblems?Howcanwecombatthisinourlives?
e. “Thedevelopedcountriesoughttohelppaythis(ecological)debtbysignificantly
limitingtheirconsumptionofnonrenewableenergyandbyassistingpoorer
countriestosupportpoliciesandprogramsofsustainabledevelopment,”Pope
Franciswrites.Howcanyouliveoutthisinyourownlife?
Chapter2:TheGospelofcreation
ThepopearguesthatfaithconvictionscanmotivateChristianstocarefornatureandforthe
mostvulnerableoftheirbrothersandsisters.Hebeginswiththebiblicalaccountofcreation
andthenmeditatesonthemysteryoftheuniverse,whichheseesasacontinuingrevelationof
thedivine."Everythingisrelated,andwehumanbeingsareunitedasbrothersandsisterson
awonderfulpilgrimage,woventogetherbytheloveGodhasforeachofhiscreaturesand
whichalsounitesusinfondaffectionwithbrothersun,sistermoon,brotherriverandmother
earth."Heconcludes,"Theearthisessentiallyasharedinheritance,whosefruitsaremeantto
benefiteveryone."
Questions:
1 AccordingtoFrancis,theBibleteachesthattheharmonybetweenthecreator,
humanity,andcreationwasdisruptedbyourpresumingtotaketheplaceofGodand
refusingtoacknowledgeourcreaturelylimitations(66).Whatdoesitmeantopresume
totaketheplaceofGod?
2 HowdoesFrancisinterpretGenesis1:28,whichgrantshumankinddominionoverthe
earth(67)?
3 HowdoesFrancisusetheBibletosupporthisviewthatthegiftoftheearthwithits
fruitsbelongstoeveryone(71)?
4 Inreflectingonthemysteryoftheuniverse,whatdoesFrancismeanbysayingthat
"creationisoftheorderoflove"(77)?
5 Whatisourrole"inthisuniverse,shapedbyopenandintercommunicatingsystems"
where"wecandiscerncountlessformsofrelationshipandparticipation"(79)?
6 Francissays,"Creatingaworldinneedofdevelopment,Godinsomewaysoughtto
limithimselfinsuchawaythatmanyofthethingswethinkofasevils,dangersor
sourcesofsuffering,areinrealitypartofthepainsofchildbirthwhichheusestodraw
usintotheactofcooperationwiththeCreator"(80).Howdoyouunderstandthis?
7 Iftheultimatepurposeofothercreaturesisnottobefoundinus,howdoweandother
creaturesfitintoGod'splan(83)?
8 AlongsiderevelationcontainedinScripture,"thereisadivinemanifestationinthe
blazeofthesunandthefallofnight"(85).HowhaveyouexperiencedGodincreation?
9 WhatisyourreactiontothehymnofSt.FrancisofAssisi(87)?
10 "TheChristiantraditionhasneverrecognizedtherighttopri-vatepropertyasabsolute
orinviolable,andhasstressedthesocialpurposeofallformsofpri-vateproperty"
(93).Whencantherighttoprivatepropertybesubordinatedtothecommongood?
11 WhatwastheattitudeofJesustowardcreation(96-100)?
a. Inthebiblicalaccountofcreation,whatarethe“threefundamentalandclosely
intertwinedrelationships”thatgroundhumanlife?
b. Whyisthetraditionalunderstandingofhumanity’s“dominion”overtheearthan
incorrectinterpretation?
c. Whatdoesthe“priorityofbeingoverthatofbeinguseful”meantoyou?
d. PopeFranciswrites,“Everythingisinterconnected,andthatgenuinecareforour
ownlivesandourrelationshipswithnatureisinseparablefromfraternity,justice,
andfaithfulnesstoothers.”Whatevidencedoyouseeofthisinyourownlifeand
family?
e. “TheSpiritofGodhasfilledtheuniversewithpossibilitiesandtherefore,fromthe
veryheartofthings,somethingnewcanalwaysemerge.”Howdoesthisgiveyou
hopeforthefutureofbothhumanityandtheearth?
Chapter3:Thehumanrootsoftheecologicalcrisis
Althoughscienceandtechnology"canproduceimportantmeansofimprovingthequalityof
humanlife,"theyhavealso"giventhosewiththeknowledge,andespeciallytheeconomic
resourcestousethem,animpressivedominanceoverthewholeofhumanityandtheentire
world."Francissaysweareenthralledwithatechnocraticparadigm,whichpromises
unlimitedgrowth.Butthisparadigm"isbasedontheliethatthereisaninfinitesupplyofthe
earth'sgoods,andthisleadstotheplanetbeingsqueezeddrybeyondeverylimit."Those
supportingthisparadigmshow"nointerestinmorebalancedlevelsofproduction,abetter
distributionofwealth,concernfortheenvironmentandtherightsoffuturegenerations.Their
behaviourshowsthatforthemmaximizingprofitsisenough."
Questions:
1 WhatisFrancis'attitudetowardtechnology?Whatdoeshemeanbythetechnocratic
paradigm(101,106-114)?
2 HowdoesFrancisarguethat"technologicalproductsarenotneutral,"(107,114)that
"thetechnocraticparadigmalsotendstodominateeconomicandpoliticallife"(109)?
3 Francissays,"Wearealltooslowindevelopingeconomicinstitutionsandsocial
initiativeswhichcangivethepoorregularaccesstobasicresourc-es"(109).Whatdoes
hemean?Whydoesthishappen?
4 Francisassertsthat"byitselfthemarketcannotguaranteeintegralhuman
developmentandsocialinclusion"(109).Whydoeshesaythis?Doyouagree?
5 Francisargues,"Toseekonlyatechnicalremedytoeachenvironmentalproblemwhich
comesupistoseparatewhatisinrealityinterconnectedandtomaskthetrueand
deepestproblemsoftheglobalsystem"(111).Whatarethetrueanddeepestproblems
oftheglobalsysteminFrancis'mind?
6 Franciscallsforabroadenedvision(112),"aboldculturalrevolution"(114).What
wouldthatlooklike?
7 WhatdoesFrancismeanby"modernanthropocentrism"(115)?
8 ForFrancis,"thepresentecologicalcrisisisonesmallsignoftheethical,culturaland
spiritualcrisisofmodernity"(119).WhatdoesFrancismeanby"practicalrelativism"
(122)andculturalrelativism(123)?
9 WhydoesFrancisarguethatanyapproachtointegratedecologymustalsoprotect
employment(124)?
10 WhatdoesFrancisseeasthepositiveandnegativeaspectsofbiologicaltechnologies
(130-136)?
a. Howcanwebothappreciateandrespecttheprogressthattechnologyhasafforded
usandstillbecautiousoftheevilsthatcanaccompanysuchtechnology?
b. PopeFranciswritesthat,attimes,lifecanbecome“asurrendertosituations
conditionedbytechnology,itselfviewedastheprincipalkeytothemeaningsof
existence.”Haveyouexperiencedthisamongyourfamilyandfriends?
c. Reflectofthisstatement:“Wecannotpresumetohealourrelationshipwith
natureandtheenvironmentwithouthealingallfundamentWhatdoesthismean
toyou?Howcanyoubegintohealyour“fundamentalhumanrelationships”?
d. Howisconcernfortheenvironmentincompatiblewithabortion?
e. Howdoes“theriseofarelativismwhichseeseverythingasirrelevantunlessit
servesone’sownimmediateinterests”lieattheheartofourenvironmental
issues?
Chapter4:Integralecology
Recognizingthereasonswhyagivenareaispollutedrequiresastudyoftheworkingsof
society,itseconomy,itsbehavior,andthewaysitgraspsreality.Wearenotfacedwithtwo
separatecrises,oneenvironmentalandtheothersocial,butratherwithonecomplexcrisis
thatisbothsocialandenvironmental.Strategiesforasolutiondemandanintegrated
approachtocombatingpoverty,restoringdignitytotheexcluded,andatthesametime
protectingnature.
Questions:
1 WhydoesFrancisarguethat"wearefacednotwithtwoseparatecrises,one
environmentalandtheothersocial,butratherwithonecomplexcrisiswhichisboth
socialandenvironmental"(139)?
2 Whatwoulditmeantohave"anintegratedapproachtocombatingpoverty,restoring
dignitytotheexcluded,andatthesametimeprotectingnature(139)"?
3 WhydoesFrancisthinkitisimportantforustounderstandecosystemsandour
relationshiptothem(140)?
4 Whydo"weurgentlyneedahumanismcapableofbringingtogetherthedifferentfields
ofknowledge,includingeconomics,intheserviceofamoreintegralandintegrating
vision"(141)?
5 Francisspeaksofan"integralecology"thatcombinesenvironmental(138-140),
economic(141),social(142),andcultural(143)ecologies.Whatdoesthatmean?How
doesitwork?
6 Howdoestheenvironmentofourhomes,workplace,andneighborhoodsaffectour
qualityoflife(147)?
7 Howdoespoverty,overcrowding,lackofopenspaces,andpoorhousingaffectthepoor
(149)?Whyaretheseenvironmentalissues?
8 WhatdoesFrancismeanby"thecommongood"(156)?
9 Whataretheconsequencesofseeingtheearthasagiftthatwehavefreelyreceived
andmustsharewithothersandthatalsobelongstothosewhowillfollowus(159)?
10 "Whatisthepurposeofourlifeinthisworld?Whyarewehere?Whatisthegoalofour
workandallourefforts?Whatneeddoestheearthhaveofus"(160)?
11 WhydoesFrancissay,"Doomsdaypredictionscannolongerbemetwithironyor
disdain"(161)?
12 WhatdoesFrancismeanwhenhesays,"Anethicalandculturaldecline...has
accompaniedthedeteriorationoftheenvironment"(162)?
a. PopeFrancissays:“Itcannotbeemphasizedenoughhoweverythingis
interconnected.Timeandspacearenotindependentofoneanother,andnoteven
atomsorsubatomicparticlescanbeconsideredinisolation.”Whataresome
examplesofthe“interconnectedness”oftheuniversethatyouhaveexperiencedin
yourownlife?Howdoesseeingeverythingasconnectedchangethewayyousee
theworld?
b. “Lackofrespectforthelawisbecomingmorecommon,”weread.Doyouagreeor
disagree?
c. PopeFrancissays,“Ecology,then,alsoinvolvesprotectingtheculturaltreasuresof
humanityinthebroadestsense.”Whatlinkdoyouseebetweenprotectingcultural
treasuresandecology?Arethereexamplesyoucanrecallfromcurrentnews?
d. Inwhatwaysmusttechnologicalsolutionstoenvironmentalissuesneedtorespect
the“rightsofpeoplesandcultures”?Whyisthelossofhumancultureasseriousas
theextinctionofplantsandanimals?
e. “Learningtoacceptyourbody,tocareforitandtorespectitsfullestmeaning,isan
essentialelementofanygenuinehumanecology,”PopeFrancissays.Haveyou
consideredthathowyoutakecareofyourbodyhasrepercussionontheworldat
large?Howcanyoubecomeabettercaretakerofyourownbody?
Chapter5:Linesofapproachandaction
Whatistobedone?Franciscallsfordialogueonenvironmentalpolicyintheinternational,
nationalandlocalcommunities.Thisdialoguemustincludetransparentdecision-makingso
thatthepoliticsservehumanfulfillmentandnotjusteconomicinterests.Italsoinvolves
dialoguebetweenreligionsandscienceworkingtogetherforthecommongood.
Questions:
1 Theword"dialogue"isrepeatedthroughoutthischapter.Whatdoesitmeanandwhy
doesFrancisthinkitisimportant?
2 Francisspeaksoftheneedforaglobalconsensusforconfrontingproblems.Whyisit
needed,andhowisitgoingtobeachieved(164)?
3 Whydoeshethinkthat"thepost-industrialperiodmaywellberememberedasoneof
themostirresponsibleinhistory"(165)?
4 WhatdoesFrancisseeasthesuccessesandfailuresoftheglobalresponseto
environmentalissues(166-169)?
5 WhatinternationalstrategiesdoesFrancisopposeinrespondingtotheenvironmental
crisis(170-171),andwhichdoeshesupport(172-172)?
6 Francisargues,"Thesamemindsetwhichstandsinthewayofmakingradicaldecisions
toreversethetrendofglobalwarmingalsostandsinthewayofachievingthegoalof
eliminatingpoverty"(175).Whatisthismindset?
7 8 statescannolongerignoretheirresponsibilityforplanning,coordination,oversight
andenforcementwithintheirrespectiveborders"(177).Whatdoesthatmeanforthe
UnitedStates?
9 "TheChurchdoesnotpresumetosettlescientificquestionsortoreplacepolitics,"
Francissays."ButIamconcernedtoencourageanhonestandopendebatesothat
particularinterestsorideologieswillnotprejudicethecommongood"(188).Whatis
theproperroleofthechurchinpolitical,economicandenvironmentalissues?
10 Francisiscriticalofmanybusinesspractices,hasnofaithinthemarketplaceto
safeguardtheenvironment,andseesarobustroleforgovernmentintheregulationof
theeconomyandprotectingtheenvironment.HowwillAmericansrespondtothis?
Howdoyou?
11 WhatdoesFrancismeanwhenhesays,"Thereisaneedtochange'modelsofglobal
development'"(194)?Whatiswrongwiththecurrentmodels?Whatwouldthenew
modelslooklike?
12 Whataretheseparaterolesofreligionandscience,andhowcantheydialogueand
worktogether(199-201)?
a. PopeFrancissaysthattosolvetheissuesfacingustodaywemustthinkof
ourselvesas“oneworldwithacommonplan.”Doyoubelievethatispossible?
Whatwouldhavetochangetohavethishappen?
b. Whataresomeofthe“commonplans”thatPopeFrancisencouragestheworldto
embrace?Whatcanyoudotohelpthisbecomeareality?
c. AlthoughPopeFrancissaystherichernationscarryagreatdealofaccountability
forenvironmentalissues,whyaretherichandpoornationsalikeresponsiblefor
caringfortheenvironment/
d. PopeFrancisremindsus,“Environmentalprotectioncannotbeassuredsolelyon
thebasisoffinancialcalculationsofcostsanbenefits.”Whatisyourreactionto
thisstatement?Howdoesitchallengeboththepoliticsoftherightandtheleft?
e. Thepopeasksustobegin“redefiningournotionofprogress.”Whatdoesprogress
meantoyou?InlightofwhathasbeenwritteninLaudatoSi,howmightyour
definitionchange?
Chapter6:Ecologicaleducationandspirituality
Weneedtochangeanddevelopnewconvictions,attitudesandformsoflife,includinganew
lifestyle.Thisrequiresnotonlyindividualconversion,butalsocommunitynetworkstosolve
thecomplexsituationfacingourworldtoday.Essentialtothisisaspiritualitythatcan
motivateustoamorepassionateconcernfortheprotectionofourworld.Christian
spiritualityproposesagrowthandfulfillmentmarkedbymoderationandthecapacitytobe
happywithlittle.Love,overflowingwithsmallgesturesofmutualcare,isalsocivicand
political,anditmakesitselffeltineveryactionthatseekstobuildabetterworld.
Questions:
1 Throughoutthisencyclical,Francislinksconcernforthepoorwiththeenvironment.
Whydoeshedothat?
2 Francisiscriticalofaconsumeristlifestyle(204).Why?Whatwouldanewlifestyle
looklike?
3 Whatcouldbethepoliticalandeconomicimpactofawidespreadchangeinlifestyles
(206)?
4 WhatdoesFrancisseeastheroleofenvironmentaleducationinincreasingawareness
andchanginghabits(210-211)?
5 WhatdoesFrancismeanbyanecologicalspirituality,andhowcanitmotivateustoa
passionateconcernfortheprotectionofourworld(216)?
6 Self-improvementonthepartofindividualswillnotbyitselfremedytheextremely
complexsituationwefacetoday,accordingtoFrancis.Whatistheroleforcommunity
networks?Governments?
7 Whataretheattitudesthatfosteraspiritofgenerouscare(220-221)?
8 Grantedalloftheproblemsweface,whatgivesFrancisjoyandpeace(222-227)?
9 Lovemustalsobecivicandpolitical,accordingtoFrancis."Sociallovemovesusto
deviselargerstrategiestohaltenvironmentaldegradationandtoencouragea'culture
ofcare'whichpermeatesallofsociety."Howcanweencouragecivicandpoliticallove
intheUnitedStates?
10 Francisproposesthatthenaturalworldisintegraltooursacramentalandspiritual
lives(233-242).Howhaveyouexperiencedthis?
11 Howisthisencyclicalgoingtochangeyourlife?
a. PopeFrancisspeaksabout“compulsiveconsumerism.”Whatdoesthisphrase
meantoyou?Whatistherelationshipbetweenconsumerismandselfishness?
Betweenself-centerednessandgreed?Betweenemptinessandconsumption?
b. Whyisthefamilythefirstplacewhereenvironmentalconcernsmustbetaughtand
lived?Whatisyourfamilydoingisthisregard?
c. WhatdoesPopeFrancismeanwhenhesaysthatwemustundergoan“ecological
conversion”?InwhatwaysshouldourencounterwithJesusChristbecomeevident
inourrelationshipwiththeworldaroundus?
d. PopeFrancisasksustodevelopanattitudeof“Jesusismore.”Howcanyoudothis
inyourownlife?
e. Howarethesacraments,andtheEucharistinparticular,concretesignsforusof
God’sloveandcareforhiscreation?WhydoesPopeFranciscalltheEucharist“a
signofcosmiclove”?
Foradditionalreadingontheencyclical,seeFrancis:TheEnvironmentEncyclical[3].