Pope JP II's take on our Earth - for Earth Day

From Centesimus annus (1991)Pope John Paul II:

"Equally worrying is the ecological question...In his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and to grow, man consumes the resources of the earth and his own life in an excessive and disordered way. At the root of the senseless destruction of the natural environment lies an anthropological error, which unfortunately is widespread in our day. Man, who discovers his capacity to transform and in a certain sense create the world through his own work, forgets that this is always based on God's prior and original gift of the things that are. Man thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth, subjecting it without restraint to his will, as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray. Instead of carrying out his role as co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature, which is more tyrannized than governed by him."

Watching our puppy enjoy our yard and woods like we never have, this is so clear. I am first to say "I have no time for environmental concerns, as millions of babies are dying!" Yet we must respect God's creation as our Holy Fathers encourage. All in moderation and true forethought! Especially as I learn through my Thomist studies that every living thing has a soul (though only humans immortal). Must resist the urge to disrespect puppy's soul after her instinct causes her to chew the furniture! And, must use puppy (as animals were given us by God for our use) to instruct children on compassion and the value of life.