But one cannot prescind from humanity. There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature
without a renewal of humanity itself. There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology.
When the human person is considered as simply one being among others, the product of chance or
physical determinism, then “our overall sense of responsibility wanes”.
96
A misguided
anthropocentrism need not necessarily yield to “biocentrism”, for that would entail adding yet another
imbalance, failing to solve present problems and adding new ones. Human beings cannot be expected
to feel responsibility for the world unless, at the same time, their unique capacities of knowledge, will,
freedom and responsibilityare recognized and valued.
119. Nor must the critique of a misguided anthropocentrism underestimate the importance of
interpersonal relations. If the present ecological crisis is one small sign of the ethical, cultural and
spiritual crisis of modernity, we cannot presume to heal our relationship with nature and the
environment without healing all fundamental human relationships. Christian thought sees human
beings as possessing a particular dignity above other creatures; it thus inculcates esteem for each
person and respect for others. Our openness to others, each ofwhom is a “thou” capable of knowing,
loving and entering into dialogue, remains the source of our nobility as human persons. A correct
relationship with the created world demands that we not weaken this social dimension of openness to
others, much less the transcendent dimension of our openness to the “Thou” of God. Our relationship
with the environment can never be isolated fromour relationshipwith others andwithGod. Otherwise,
it would be nothingmore than romantic individualism dressed up in ecological garb, locking us into a
stifling immanence.
120. Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with
the justification of abortion. How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other
vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human
embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties? “If personal and social
sensitivity towards the acceptance of the new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are
valuable for societyalsowither away”.
97
96
BENEDICTXVI,
Message for the2010WorldDayof Peace
, 2:AAS 102 (2010), 41.
97
ID., Encyclical Letter
Caritas inVeritate
(29 June2009), 28:AAS 101 (2009), 663.
