Natural Resources
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness Thereof, Oh, God, enlarge within us the Sense of fellowship with all living things (St. Basil of Caesarea)
As Catholics in the U.S., we are called to stand with the poor. To make sure natural resources are used in ways that sustain the natural environment and contribute to human development. To protect the lives and dignity of poor people and to assure that the potential benefits of natural resource extraction are realized for the common good of all. The fair trade model is a useful framework for understanding extractive industries. The fair trade marketplace has demonstrated that transparent supply chains are possible and that use of God’s creation can be sustainable. Fair trade also poses a hope and challenge for extractive industries to engage in “authentic human development [which] concerns the whole of the person in every single dimension” (Caritas in Veritate).
Visit CRS’ new climate page to learn more!
