William Patenaude on Protecting Our Environment Despite Living in a "Culture of Waste"

"There was cheering two years ago this month when Pope Francis issued Laudato Si’, his long-awaited encyclical on the environment.

"But it was two years before that, at a weekly audience one fine June day, when the newly installed pontiff gave his first major address on ecology. His words built on the many eco-teachings of his predecessors and they anticipated his own contributions. He did both with one deceptively simple phrase: 'a culture of waste.'

"On its surface, the term expresses some basic, well-known realities.

"'This culture of waste has also made us insensitive to wasting and throwing out excess foodstuffs,' Francis taught in 2013, 'which is especially condemnable when, in every part of the world, unfortunately, many people and families suffer hunger and malnutrition.

"'There was a time when our grandparents were very careful not to throw away any left over food. Consumerism has induced us to be accustomed to excess and to the daily waste of food, whose value … we are no longer able to judge correctly.'

"But Francis didn't stop there."

In a recent commentary, writer William Patenaude (who also serves as an engineer with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management) reflected on the importance of our evaluating our assumptions about what guides human choices regarding the environment and in other areas as well.

To access Mr. Patenaude's complete post, please visit:

Rhode Island Catholic: Pope advocates for all to protect the environment despite living in a 'Culture of Waste' (29 JUN 17)

Background iuformation:

Catholic Ecology