Prompted by Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si, representatives from the Catholic, Jewish and Muslim traditions discussed what their religion teaches about care for the planet. “Care for Our Common Home” was co-sponsored by the Diocese and the Marrow-McCombs Commission, a local organization devoted to strengthening interfaith understanding.
Father Benedict Nwachukwu, V.F., represented the Catholic perspective while Dr. Imad Bayoun represented the Muslim community and Rabbi Michael Lotker offered the Jewish tradition of environmentalism. Each was asked to summarize their faith’s perspective on the care of the earth, and give some examples of where it is found in their sacred texts. They were also asked to share any reflections they have, personally, on Laudato Si.
“It reads to this Rabbi like a very Jewish document,” quipped Rabbi Lotker of the encyclical.
He emphasized the very important role that God has given humankind in the care of the earth.
“God sends us, Judaism says, into this world to complete the work of creation, to be agents, messengers of the divine,” Rabbi Lotker said. “God needs the partnership of humanity.”
Dr. Bayoun echoed this message in his remarks while also stressing individual accountability in the care of creation.
“Preserving the earth is considered to be part of that duty that God has entrusted the human with,” he said. “This applies to every human being in whatever domain he’s working with.”
Fr. Nwachukwu offered several citations of Laudato Si, including the assertion of Pope Francis that shortsightedness and greed are the source of many environmental problems in the world.
“When nature is viewed solely as a source of profit and gain this has serious consequences for our society,” he said.
The three panelists gave specific examples of environmental teaching from the Bible, the Quran and the Torah. Dr. Bayoun cited the Prophet Muhammad’s teaching that one should be frugal with water “even if you are on the bank of a flowing river.” Rabbi Lotker cited a passage in Deuteronomy stipulating that even when a village is plundered during wartime, fruit trees must be left standing and cared for. Fr. Nwachukwu cited Gospel passages in which Jesus used elements of the earth to heal people, and referred, during the Sermon on the Mount, to the “lilies of the field” as evidence of God’s providence for all living things.
The dialogue concluded with some thoughts about how to stem the tide of environmental degradation in the world and what role the faith community might have in that.
“The politicians would have us believe that this is a liberal vs. conservative issue,” Rabbi Lotkin said. “This is why it is so critical that religious voices, especially conservative religious voices, speak to these concerns.”
Dr. Bayoun commented earlier that addressing excessive consumerism is a key to improving the health of the planet. Fr. Nwachukwu agreed that individual conversion among all people is needed.
“A change in lifestyle can be a way forward,” he said. “So that people around the world can breathe in and breathe out.”