Care for Environment: A Moral and Social Responsibility
Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

The topic given me on the Care of Environment is quite unfamiliar since I have had an industrial and manufacturing training and experience. I am more familiar with industrial technology and education which may at first glance seem inimical to environment issues or shows little interest about them. We often hear or read news about how progress and development which mostly are understood as industrial development sacrifice the care of the environment, and even cause its destruction. But, I take up the challenge to talk about the topic so that I may learn more about care for environment, and especially focusing on the point of moral and social responsibility.

Besides, the greater reason for accepting the talk even with an unfamiliar topic for me is because of PREX and my appreciation of this wonderful and Renewal Program which has greatly contributed to the renewal efforts of the Church in my diocese. Allow me to share briefly about my experience with PREX hoping that it will add to the many affirmations the PREX Ates and Kuyas present or absent in this National Convention regarding the importance of this renewal program.

My first contact with PREX was when as a priest in Don Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong City, from 1985 – 1992, I used to be invited several times for confession of the PREX participants in San Roque Parish, Baranka, Mandaluyong. I had really no idea about the program since I was just focused on ministering the Sacrament. Then, just in an unconscious manner, I was one of those who somehow brought PREX to the Archdiocese of Cebu, when Ate Bing and Kuya Art Saroca together with a Salesian priest, Fr. Johan Dumandan came to Don Bosco Cebu in 1995 and asked me if they could hold the PREX seminar in our compound. Then, in a rather providential way, which I cannot explain except by saying that it must be God-willed, PREX came to the Diocese of Maasin in 2002 through Ate Bing and Kuya Art Saroca. From that time till now, PREX is very active in providing renewal experiences to already 25 out of 41 parishes.

My support and promotion of PREX goes even abroad, being the Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples (ECMI). Together with Ate Bing and another Ate, I gave the PREX to the First Batch of the Philippine Catholic Mission in Switzerland.

So, as my appreciation for PREX, I have accepted this privilege to share my thoughts on the topic.

 I wonder whether the Guinsaugon tragedy which happened in February 17, 2006 in the town of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, in my Diocese was considered by the organizers of this convention to assign to me this topic on the Care for Environment. Anyway, three days ago, I was there at Ground Zero together with many survivors and faithful to commemorate the tragedy and pray for those who died and for those who have survived the landslide. The first questions asked of me by journalists, local and foreign, were about the causes of such tragedy and the suggestion that neglect and/or destruction of the forests in that area was the culprit for such massive landslide. I have heard newsmen and news commentators summarily lambasted illegal loggers who should be prosecuted for such great damage of life and properties. But, I remembered saying that the mountain range and the part of it that came down was forested; it was green with trees and vegetation. But, of course, there were and are many other places in the country where tragedies like what we have witnessed in our place have been indeed caused by lack of care for the environment.

The Pastoral Letters of the CBCP

I realized that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has written three Pastoral Letters on the Environment. I wonder whether we are aware of these beautiful documents which are good source of information and clear directions on what we, as Church and as individual faithful should do. These letters are: “What is Happening To Our Beautiful Land: A Pastoral Letter on Ecology”, January 29, 1988; “Water is Life”, July 5, 2000; “Upholding the Sanctity of Life” (20 years after the CBCP Pastoral Letter What is Happening to our Beautiful Land?), November 5, 2008.

Have you read these letters of our pastors? Do we listen to our shepherds? When it is about politics, the faithful are always waiting and asking what CBCP would say, especially if some faithful have some political interests, or some sensational political events. But, on the care of environment, I bet, there is very little interest at all.

So “What is happening to our beautiful land, the Pearl of the Orient Seas?

Our Bishops wrote in 1988:

“All the living systems on land and in the seas around us are being ruthlessly exploited. The damage to date is extensive and, sad to say, it is often irreversible. One does not need to be an expert to see what is happening and to be profoundly troubled by it. Within a few short years brown, eroded hills have replaced luxuriant forests in many parts of the country. We see dried up river beds where, not so long ago, streams flowed throughout the year. Farmers tell us that, because of erosion and chemical poisoning, the yield from the croplands has fallen substantially. Fisherman and experts on marine life have a similar message. Their fish catches are shrinking in the wake of the extensive destruction of coral reefs and mangrove forests. The picture which is emerging in every province of the country is clear and bleak. The attack on the natural world which benefits very few Filipinos is rapidly whittling away at the very base of our living world and endangering its fruitfulness for future generations.”

Everyone here could give concrete examples of what the bishops described in their letter. In your respective towns and provinces you would have seen the disgusting realities of ruthless exploitation of the environment and God’s creation.

The bishops described another environmental problem, this time a very specific but very vital one, nothing more vital than WATER. In their Pastoral Letter entitled: “Water is Life” they simply state the problem:

“Problem: Water Insecurity – due to the destruction of watersheds and denuded forests. That the country is facing water insecurity may come as a surprise. We have an average of twenty typhoons a year and yet despite the torrential rains and the all too frequent flooding, we do not have a sustainable supply of water. Water insecurity is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the country today and it is not the kind of problem that can be solved overnight.

Every living organism in our environment depends on water: flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, all our food crops. Animals depend on water. Every issue that affects the environment – whether it be the construction of a dam or an irrigation system, the conversion of land for residential or industrial use, the development of plantations, the preservation of biodiversity – all have to do with water.

In many cases our streams, rivers, and in some cases, our lakes, have been turned into garbage disposal areas. The amount of toxic industrial wastes – trillions of tons every year – dumped into our waterways and systems, is simply horrendous. Some of our rivers are dead or dying and emit the stench of decay. Waterways do not pollute themselves. They have become polluted because of the way people have behaved, because of our lack of civic virtue, because of our lack of concern for others and for the health of our environment. We have no excuses. We have no one to blame. Unless we change our ways and attitudes, then things are not going to improve.”

I had the privileged of giving a talk in an international gathering in Benedikbouern, Germany precisely on the topic, “Water is Life”. I was asked by the organizers of the Conference to share this Pastoral Letter of the CBCP. We may not realize the gravity of the problem of water insecurity not only in our country but in the whole world. I learned in that Conference that if all the water in the whole world were a gallon (four liters), the drinking water would only be teaspoon full. There is such a need for drinking water that they say the third world war would be on drinking water, not oil. Again, on this problem, everyone can certainly share something of his/her concrete experience or observations.

The Bishops, just two years ago, sounded again the urgent call on the care for environment in the Pastoral letter: “Upholding the Sanctity of Life (20 years after the CBCP Pastoral Letter What is Happening to our Beautiful Land?)”.

They make the faithful realize that “since 1988, a number of new threats to our environment have surfaced. (a) Irresponsible mining, (b) illegal logging, and (c) global warming and climate change.

They continue:
“The Philippine Mining Industry has a poor record of community accountability. Over the years, mining companies have systematically engaged in the rape of Mother Earth and left a legacy of impoverished communities and environmental despoliation.

Illegal and destructive logging largely contribute to the decimation of our forest resources which causes loss of biodiversity, instability and massive erosions of upland soils, serious damage to our rivers and underground freshwater ecosystems, and coastal areas.

The sea level rise due to the increase in temperature is projected to adversely affect 16 regions in the Philippines, 20 provinces and more than 700 municipalities. Climate change has increased the number of stronger storms and typhoons that hit the country every year. Each typhoon that hits our land reminds us of our balding forests. With every landslide, we are reminded of the vulnerability of man against the dynamics of nature.”

What does our faith tell us?

The Bishops reminds us of the teachings of our faith:

In the light of the Gospel we are convinced that this assault on creation is sinful and contrary to the teachings of our faith. The Bible tells us that God created this world, (Gen. 1:1); and that He created man and woman in His image and charged them to be stewards of His creation. (Gen. 1:27-28). God, who created our world, loves life and wishes to share this life with every creature. St. John tells us that Jesus saw His mission in this light. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”(Jn. 10:10).

There is an urgent call to RESPECT AND DEFEND LIFE including that of the earth and our natural environment – the forests, seas, and lands. What is happening to our environment? Destruction in the name of progress. People (as inhabitants of the earth) should take proper steps to address the concern of caring for the environment as a moral and social imperative. This responsibility is grounded in our Faith and is modeled in the person of Jesus Christ – our life and in Mary our mother of life.”

What do we do?

a) What each individual can do?
We listen again to the direction of our Pastors:
Be aware of what is happening in your area. Do not remain silent when you see your environment being destroyed. Use your influence within your family and community to develop this awareness. Avoid a fatalistic attitude. We are people of hope, who believe that together we can change the course of events. Organize people around local ecological issues. Support public officials who are sensitive to environmental issues. Become involved in some concrete action. There is much that can be done by individuals to reforest bald hills and prevent soil erosion.

What are we to do about the situation? Ecclesia in Asia says:

The vocation of the laity sets them firmly in the world to perform the most varied tasks, and it is here that they are called to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By the grace and call of Baptism and confirmation, all lay people are missionaries; and the arena of their missionary work is the vast and complex worlds of politics, economics, industry, education, the media science, technology, the arts, and sport… Witnessing to the Gospel in every area of life in society, the lay faithful can play a unique role in rooting out injustice and oppression, and for this too they must be adequately formed.”
Our Pastors are optimistic in spite of the apparently almost impossible situation and they tell the laity:
It is not too late to save our critical watershed. But it soon will be if we do not act. As pastors we want to encourage the laity, especially those with the competence and expertise to take a much greater interest in the environment and in solving the serious environmental problems facing our nation. There are too many of our professionals-economists, scientists, engineers, lawyers-who just happen to be Catholics. What we need are more Catholics who just happen to be economists, scientists, engineers, lawyers, and such people who have assimilated thoroughly the Christian view of life.

They would still remain first class professionals but they would see things in a very different way because for the Christian, moral and spiritual vision has its roots in a Christ-like heart; they would be asking different questions and with a much greater sense of urgency.”

What the Church can do?

“Like every other group, the Church as a community is called to conversion around this, the ultimate pro-life issue. Until very recently many religions, including the Catholic Church, have been slow to respond to the ecological crisis. We, the bishops, would like to redress this neglect. There is a great need for a Filipino theology of creation which will be sensitive to our unique living world, our diverse cultures and our religious heritage. The fruits of this reflection must be made widely available through our preaching and catechetical programs. Our different liturgies must celebrate the beauty and pain of our world, our connectedness to the natural world and the on-going struggle for social justice. We would like to encourage the administrators of our catholic schools to give special importance to the theme of peace, justice and the integrity of creation in their schools.

Since programs, however laudable, will not implement themselves, we suggest the setting up of a Care of the Earth ministry at every level of Church organization, from the basic Christian communities, through the parish structure and diocesan offices right up to the national level. This ministry could help formulate and implement policies and strategies which flow from our new and widen vision. The idea is not so much to add another activity to our pastoral ministry, but rather that this concern should underpin everything we do.”

The Church has a major contribution to make by presenting and explaining the grandeur and beauty of the Christian vision of creation. The New Catechism of the Catholic Church treats of the importance of catechesis on creation. It is clear that without belief “in the Creator of heaven and earth”, the other articles of the Creed lack any foundation.

The laity does not expect their priests to be experts in economics, political science, sociology or ecology. They do expect, however, to hear solid teaching on the Christian meaning of life, on the meaning of creation, and why as Catholics when they get involved in environmental activities they are doing God’s work. They need to be inspired and enlightened about their role in the secular arena. As the only Catholic country in Asia, the Philippines has to bear witness to Christ and one area where we can do this in our concern for the environment. If, as a people, we allow our faith to guide our conduct, then we will soon experience the renewal of our environment.

The Church has another great resource in the millions of dedicated members of “mandated organizations” and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). They must begin to be more deeply involved in the solving of ecological problems at their level of the community.

Conclusion

The challenge to preserve our beautiful land may be difficult but not impossible.
We encourage every citizen to eliminate wasteful consumption. We pray that the government, in making economic and political decisions, would always consider that true stewardship does not mean economic gains for the powerful few. True stewardship is the constant and continuing work for the benefit of all.

No material gain can equate the value of life. Every Filipino depends on the environment. Because of the threats against these fragile resources, our lives and livelihood are likewise threatened. Our present and our future must not be made to depend on programs that offer short-term gains for a chosen few. Our responsibility to our mother nature is our responsibility to ourselves. We call on all stakeholders, the government and its implementing arms to contribute in good will, so that in a responsible and humane manner we can reflect that human life does not have a price.

“There is an urgency about this issue which calls for widespread education and immediate action. We are convinced that the challenge we have tried to highlight here is similar to the one which Moses put before the people of Israel, before they entered their promised land.”

“Today I offer you a choice of life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life and then you and your descendants will live.” (Dt. 30:19-20).