As a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, I am rooted in a tradition that calls me to care for both people and Earth. Through my ministry, I am reminded that environmental injustices and social injustices are deeply intertwined, shaping the daily realities of many people.
In recent years, conversations about climate and environmental injustice and the social issues of poverty, racism and immigration have unfolded as if these were separate crises, competing for our attention and resources. But what if the problem is not that we face too many crises but that we keep trying to solve them one by one?
The late Pope Francis provided an alternative framework for environmental and social injustice. In his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’,” he writes that we are not facing “two separate crises, one environmental and the other social” but “one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.” He calls this approach integral ecology, which begins with the simple truth that everything is connected.
When we acknowledge the interconnectedness of all issues, we realize that human well-being, healthy ecosystems, vibrant cultures and functioning economic systems are woven together. For instance, when soil is depleted, food systems are weakened. When air is polluted, health suffers. When whole communities are denigrated and lack economic opportunity, violence and displacement follow.
These insights feel increasingly urgent as communities around the world experience rising temperatures, armed conflict, mass migration and environment degradation all at once.
But there is hope! Integral ecology transcends single-issue thinking and invites us to care for the whole of creation. It is difficult to address homelessness without having an awareness of green space, clean air and the well-being of pollinators such as butterflies or birds. Nor can we protect endangered species from irreversible harm without addressing armed conflict and interpersonal violence.
At first glance, integral ecology may seem overwhelming. But we are not called to do everything alone, nor are we expected to do it all. Rather, it calls us to collaborate, to listen more carefully to each other, to trust each other’s expertise, and to engage in actions that honor both the cry of vulnerable people and the cry of Earth.
As Catholics, we are blessed with parish communities, religious communities and educational institutions that share our values. Embedded in our faith tradition, we can look to each other for hope, expertise and encouragement.
We also participate in integral ecology when we tend a garden, plant a tree, practice kindness or challenge systemic injustices such as racism. No action or task is too small. In a time when our nation and world seem polarized, integral ecology offers an alternate narrative of connection and hope.
As a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, I remain committed to working for environmental and social justice, trusting that every act of care — local, communal or global — helps shape a more just and livable future for all. Will you join me? Together we can care for our common home and help shape a more just and livable future for all people and ecosystems.
Sister of Charity of Nazareth Lisa Polega ministers in the SCN Office of Social and Environmental Justice.
