Sociological Perspectives on Laudato Si’ – Towards a Coherent Social and an Ecological Conversion

The article deals with some of the major theoretical and methodological strategies used by sociologists to better understand the relationship between humans and their natural world and to identify the ecologically-relevant features of modern nations and their impact on global climate change. Outlining the current state of sociological knowledge and opportunities for future research about the social causes of global climate change we have to put papal encyclical letter »Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home« and global climate change into social light of theoretical insights from the broader discipline of sociology in a number of areas, including micro and macro foundations of social inequality, population and migration research and models of globalization. At the heart of the encyclical Laudato Si’, there is a big understanding of human kind, common good and nature where Pope Francis introduces the term of »Integral Ecology« explaining that our nature is created by God and surrounded by the gifts of creation. Accordingly, there is a growing recognition of the need to better incorporate social science analyses into climate change research efforts according to the integral ecology in encyclical Laudato Si’.

Reflections on COVID-19 from a Christian Perspective of Justice and Peace

The COVID 19 pandemic has provoked many reflections. Here we present some of them formulated from a Christian perspective of justice and peace, that is, from the point of view of a Christian committed to building a world of justice and peace following the Social Teaching of the Church. The first group of reflections has to do with being a Christian per se, and therefore the virtues that used to be neglected and those that are currently exercised in the time of pandemic are taken into consideration: hope, humility, prudence, fortitude. The second group of reflections deals directly with the issues of justice and peace. During the pandemic, these issues manifested as closely related: “everything is related, everything is connected.” After a consideration of an existential nature on justice, follow others: on the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity, health as a global public good and on the crucial issues of work and respect for creation. Finally, the Christian proposal is indicated, which is that of the “culture of care” proposed in terms of integral ecology.

Training in the care of the common home: sustainable tourism as a driver for an integral ecology

The growing importance that the sustainability is experiencing, in relation to the territorial culture, highlights the need to educate people who will be able not only to guide territorial initiatives and resources, but also to create synergies among different subjects, increasing as a consequence the relational capital and diversifying sustainable touristic projects in order to respond to the characteristics of a fare development. Sustainable tourism and the education that lies at its basis are related to the interpretation of green economy current heuristic curves and outcomes, which offers the possibility of creating jobs and boosting innovative activities. Sustainable tourism, whose main features are here described and compared to other types of tourism, is strictly related to the topics and the issues concerning human development, being nowadays a powerful driver to increase placement. Formazione alla cura della casa comune: il turismo sostenibile come driver per un’ecologia integrale L’importanza sempre maggiore assunta dalla sostenibilità in riferimento alla cultura del territorio, evidenzia la necessità di formare persone capaci di orientare le iniziative e le risorse territoriali, di creare sinergie tra i molti soggetti, producendo un incremento del capitale relazionale e una diversificazione di progetti turistici sostenibili per rispondere alle esigenze di sviluppo equo e solidale. La prospettiva del turismo sostenibile e della sua formazione è connessa con un’interpretazione delle attuali curvature e risultanze euristiche della green economy, che offre possibilità per la creazione di lavoro, e di attività creativo-innovative. Il turismo sostenibile, di cui si offre una disamina dei contenuti e dei valori in parallelo ad altre forme di turismo, è in profonda sintonia con i temi e le prospettive dello sviluppo umano e rappresenta, oggi, uno straordinario driver per potenziare il placement.

An Apocalypse Converted: William Stringfellow and Catholic Social Teaching on Climate Breakdown

In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis advances the concept of integral ecology to connect the environmental crisis with a range of social crises afflicting our societies. This concept is grounded in a theological commitment, but directed towards its political effects. Those two trajectories are represented by the encyclical’s articulation of a spiritual awakening described as an ecological conversion and its repeated calls to dialogue. Francis is not unaware of the risk that a naïve engagement in dialogue could stifle serious mitigation of the crises we face. Yet, even with many dire warnings about outcomes, much of the contemporary discourse around the climate and biodiversity crisis runs the risk of underestimating the nature of the problem. Apocalyptic theology, specifically in the work of William Stringfellow, is proposed as a valuable interlocutor at this point. Stringfellow’s account of the Christian life as a battle with the forces of Death allows Christians to name that which we are converted from in an ecological conversion, strengthening the grounds upon which dialogue is engaged.

Socially Responsible Investment, the Stewardship of University Resources, and Integral Ecology

This chapter stresses the need for Catholic colleges and universities to engage in the just stewardship of resources. First, the author argues that all Catholic institutions must take seriously the notion of socially responsible investment, informed by the principles of Catholic moral theology and Catholic social teaching. The chapter then considers whether divestment from fossil fuels is a moral imperative and discusses how socially responsible investment principles should also inform whether Catholic institutions can accept donations from individuals, corporations, or government agencies that may have done grave harm to either people or the planet. The author advances the argument that Catholic colleges and universities have a duty to fulfil the vision of integral ecology in Catholic social teaching by implementing “micro-level actions” and promoting systemic level changes to promote sustainability. The chapter also surveys some of the efforts of Catholic institutions to green their campuses and contends that these institutions must recognize that integral ecology relates to both environmental sustainability and human welfare, including the welfare of workers on campus and in their supply chains.