CHURCHES CONCERN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: MAKING SENSE OF A NEW CHRISTIAN DIAKONIA

Lluis Oviedo

Pontificia Universita Antonianum
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9840-0827

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed an abundance of statements by many Christian Churches aimed at addressing environmental issues, most recently the Catholic Encyclical Laudato si’. These documents invite theological engagement, especially after becoming aware of the criticism that such proposals might raise in different social and intellectual settings. This paper tries to expose such criticism and the reasons that could discourage the Church’s environmental engagement, to stimulate a critical and dialogical stance able to move into the ongoing discussion and to answer the most pressing questions.