- Oct 31, 2008
- 20,373
- 12,069
- 36
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
As the title says, I'm curious if the Church has ever directly issued any statements, essays, research or anything of the kind that would discuss how they reconcile these concepts? I often think about how overpopulation contributes to destruction of the environment. In fact, I can't recall the source off-hand, but I read somewhere that a Cardinal who was involved with Pope Francis' research team that worked on his encyclical Laudato si' commented that the Earth is overpopulated by roughly five billion people (that was the inference as this person said the planet could only viably sustain roughly 2-2.5 billion or so).
Anyway, whether those numbers are factual or not, I do think we're struggling with overpopulation and it's only going to get exponentially worse in the future if things continue status quo. That being said, I wonder how the Church would reconcile the concept of being good stewards of creation and ensuring that we honor God by properly taking care of this world, and not interfering with the his divine work in procreation?
Is there a priority here? Maybe the environment is important inasmuch as it doesn't interfere with human reproduction?
I don't mean to be crass or rude, I'm genuinely curious what the Church has said—if anything—or would say on this matter. Speculation is fine; educated guesses preferred.
Cheers all.
Anyway, whether those numbers are factual or not, I do think we're struggling with overpopulation and it's only going to get exponentially worse in the future if things continue status quo. That being said, I wonder how the Church would reconcile the concept of being good stewards of creation and ensuring that we honor God by properly taking care of this world, and not interfering with the his divine work in procreation?
Is there a priority here? Maybe the environment is important inasmuch as it doesn't interfere with human reproduction?
I don't mean to be crass or rude, I'm genuinely curious what the Church has said—if anything—or would say on this matter. Speculation is fine; educated guesses preferred.
Cheers all.