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Laudato Si,
Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Environment

Insights and Discussions

For Christian Ethics by:
Norwainie Abbas
Jennica Gyrl Delfin
Aeyresc Sayadi
Francris Talon
LLB I-Estrellado
ADDU Law School

Chapter One: What is Happening to our Common Home

This chapter focuses on the several ecological and environmental challenges and problems our
own planet earth faces. Both science and religion agree on the matter concerning the well-being of our
planet and what we can do to save it. The pope himself as well as other prominent figures come to an
agreement that we need to do better when it comes to taking care of our own planet. By saving earth, we
also save ourselves so we must spread awareness and do something good about it. As humans who live in
this world, it is our duty to provide for the earth so it can provide for us
Chapter Two: The Gospel of Creation
Chapter two talks about the balance of the nature, the universe and its inhabitants and how it is all
connected. Even if there is inequality between mankind, creatures, the environment and everything else,
as humans we must keep the balance between all of us and our surroundings. Every creature on earth
plays an important role in keeping the balance such as the food chain, pollination by insects, the creation
of food by plants and the cycle of life itself. Just because we are created in Gods image according to the
bible, it is by no means for us to play God on earth and no means or us to abuse this world and forget our
place. There is goodness and balance in unity and we must strive for it.
Chapter Three: The Human Roots of Ecological Crisis
What might be the reason why our relationship as human beings with our environment seemed to
be in crisis? This chapter addresses several issues that might cause it. One is technocratic dominion. With
the advancement of technology, we sometimes disregard the possible outcome of it which is the
destruction and exploitation of our environment. Another reason is excessive anthropocentrism. We are so
focused on ourselves that we forget to recognize our own place in the world which results in a use and
throw logic. This kind of mentality often leads to exploitation not only of our own being but of other
living things around us. This chapter also addresses those problems, the value of labor should be given
recognition and a responsible scientific and social database needs to take place to provide a systematic
and effective approach to this crisis.
With our world becoming modern each day, we sometimes dont care about its impact not only
with our lives but also to those around us. We forget that this is our only home. All the things we have
done with our environment will surely hit us back when the time comes. So we need to act now and lets
start fixing our relationship with our environment before its too late.
Chapter Four: Integral Ecology
Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which
we live, writes the pope. We are part of nature. We are not faced with two separate crises, one
environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.
Integral ecology begins with the recognition that humanity now faces existential crises on multiple fronts:

extreme economic disparity, increased competition for resources including land and water, a severely
degraded natural world, failing nation states, and a climate on the verge of spinning out of control.
Pope Francis will likely bring together issues of social justice and economic inequity into
relationship with our growing understanding of global climate change and environmental trauma. While
economic analysis is not the central agenda of his encyclical, it appears as if Francis will consider how
relentless growth through capital investment both adversely affects the poor and the health of biological
life on the planet. Francis will call for no less than revolution, not of violence but a revolution of
tenderness, a revolution of the heart. That tenderness of solidarity should extend not only to the earths
poor but to the earth herself. Both have been exploited. Both have been debased. At such a moment, a
new revolutionary experience is needed, an experience wherein human consciousness awakens to the
grandeur and sacred quality of earth process.
The fates of all peoples are linked, and they are linked ultimately to the fate of the earth. What
befalls the earth befalls us all. Thus integral ecology revisions the relationship between the human being
and the natural world. It recognizes the human as integral to nature rather than nature as subject to human
domination.
Chapter Five: Lines of Approach and Action

The interdependence of humanity obliges us to think of one world with a common plan. We
need to develop more efficiently organized international institutions to address global warming and
poverty. In any discussion about a proposed venture, a number of questions need to be asked in order to
discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development: What will it accomplish? Why?
Where? When? How? For whom? What are the risks? What are the costs? Who will pay those costs and
how? Profit cannot be the sole criterion to be taken into account.
Reaching consensus is not easy and the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or
to replace politics. Politics and the economy tend to blame each other when it comes to poverty and
environmental degradation. They need to own up to their mistakes and find ways to join together to
promote the public good. Empirical science cant explain the whole of reality. We need also to look at the
ethical and spiritual resources produced by the worlds religions. The majority of people living on our
planet profess to be believers, and they need to dialogue with each other and with science on these issues.

Chapter Six: Ecological Education and Spirituality

Chapter two talks about the balance of the nature, the universe and its inhabitants and how it is all
connected. Even if there is inequality between mankind, creatures, the environment and everything else,
as humans we must keep the balance between all of us and our surroundings. Every creature on earth
plays an important role in keeping the balance such as the food chain, pollination by insects, the creation
of food by plants and the cycle of life itself. Just because we are created in Gods image according to the
bible, it is by no means for us to play God on earth and no means or us to abuse this world and forget our
place. There is goodness and balance in unity and we must strive for it.