Last week’s article highlighted the fact that the human being has a privileged position in the universe. They are responsible for the care of the universe. 

“The Second Vatican Council affirmed that man ‘judges rightly that by his intellect he surpasses the material universe, for he shares in the light of the divine mind’. The Council Fathers recognised the progress made thanks to the tireless application of human genius down the centuries, whether in the empirical sciences, the technological disciplines or the liberal arts.” 

Today, “especially with the help of science and technology, man has extended his mastery over nearly the whole of nature and continues to do so.”

We have seen over the years several examples of the human being’s mastery. We have travelled to the moon; we have been able to use natural resources to build beautiful buildings for us to protect ourselves from the elements; we have constructed extensive road networks that enable us to travel to different parts. 

A key message however, is that in constructing these extraordinary achievements, we must be mindful that the earth’s resources belong to everyone.

We must govern the resources in a just manner always keeping to the fore, the person who created all of this for us to manage. No one person can take possession of the environment in a selfish way. It belongs to everyone.

When we make use of the environmental resources it must redound to the benefit of everyone. “For man, created in God's image, received a mandate to subject to himself the earth and all that it contains, and to govern the world with justice and holiness, a mandate to relate himself and the totality of things to him who was to be acknowledged as the Lord and Creator of all. Thus, by the subjection of all things to man, the name of God would be wonderful in all the earth.”

“[The Council teaches that] throughout the course of the centuries, men have laboured to better the circumstances of their lives through a monumental amount of individual and collective effort. To believers, this point is settled: considered in itself, this human activity accords with God's will.”

Next week we look at science and technology and how it relates to the environment.

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, can contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House – 622-6680. Also on sale at the Justice Desk are the Take a Bite Social Justice Programme on DVD and Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching.