Oct 30, 2007 / 06:59 am
The environment, sustainable development, and the place of man in the world were the topics of a recent statement to the United Nations given by the Apostolic Nuncio leading the Holy See's permanent observer mission.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore explained the moral concern at the heart of environmentalism. Emphasizing man's capacity for stewardship, he countered the mentality of some within the environmentalist movement that see man as a nuisance or a threat to the environment. Between the human being and the environment there is "an inseparable alliance, in which the environment essentially conditions man’s life and development, while the human being perfects and ennobles the environment by his or her creative activity," he stressed.
He highlighted the need to balance economic growth with the grave responsibility of protecting the environment: "While the duty to protect the environment should not be considered in opposition to development, it must not be sacrificed on the altar of economic development. My delegation believes that, at its core, the environmental crisis is a moral challenge."
The archbishop also explained that real development cannot be limited purely to concerns about providing for people materially. "Development is not achieved through a mere quantitative increase of production, but through a balanced approach to production, respect for the rights and dignity of workers, and environmental protection," he said.