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If America is in fact the land of the free, why should Catholics have to compromise their beliefs on reproductive rights? Many biologists believe that pronatalism, the belief that there should not be a limit on the amount of children one wishes to bear, is an outdated belief that leads to disastrous effects on the ecosystem (Pennsylvania State University, Fall 2015). Those in favor of the overpopulation theory believe that humans consume an excessive amount of the earth’s natural resources and bring destruction to natural habitats. Their solution to these issues is to control population size, especially through birth control methods (Pennsylvania State University, Fall 2015). Consequently, the problem lies not so much in the size of the population, but in how the population interacts with the environment. Because Catholics believe children are a blessing from God, those who follow the teachings of the Catholic Church are pronatalists and cannot support population control interventions. Though Catholics cannot participate in the effort to reduce population size in order to lower natural resource use and pollution of animal habitats, they can teach their families to properly use the resources God has bestowed on them. Based on the teachings of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, God should determine how many children a couple brings into the world; therefore, Catholics can help preserve the environment and its resources by reducing their carbon footprint and treating the environment with respect.
The Catholic Church’s system of belief is based on a combination of scripture, the Bible, and tradition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church; both of these elements oppose methods of population control. In the first chapter of the Bible God commands the first man and the first woman to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28, New American Standard Bible). Not only did God command man to procreate, but He indicates that humans have the responsibility of caring for the natural resources of the world. In addition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that every intimate act should be within marriage and open to the possibility of life (Catholic Church, 2353 & 1664). The use of contraceptives as a means of population control are thus prohibited by the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Not only does the Catechism promote fruitfulness, but it commands justice and charity in the care of natural resources (Catholic Church, 373-378). From this belief it is required for Catholics to try to reduce their use of energy and care for the environment. Catholics can reduce their carbon footprint by adopting good habits in regards to automotive and electrical use (Carbon Fund Foundation, n.d.). Carpooling and investing in fuel-efficient cars are optimal ways of lowering ones carbon footprint. Furthermore, installing solar panels and insulating one’s home can reduce energy consumption (Carbon Fund Foundation, n.d.). In regards to caring for the environment, Catholics can help this movement by donating to habitat conservation efforts like the National Wildlife Federation (National Wildlife Federation, 2015). Avoiding pollution and always recycling can also help preserve natural habitats (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2015). One glass bottle made from recycled glass can reduce air pollution by 20% and water pollution by 50% (Conserve Energy Future, 2015). Imagine the positive impact on animal habitat that would result if all Catholic families committed to always recycling. The most humane way to reduce natural resource consumption and destruction of habitat is not by eliminating humans but by modifying human behavior.
There are ways other than population control that humans can embrace to help protect the earth’s resources and wildlife. Catholics in general cannot support the idea of population control as an adequate means of reducing natural resource usage or protecting animal habits. Reducing energy depletion and protecting the environment are effective ways that Catholics can help the earth. Non-Catholics and Catholics alike are called to make a firm effort in preserving the earth that they share.
Resources
Carbon Fund Foundation. (n.d.). How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint. In carbonfund.org. Retrieved from http://carbonfund.org/reduce
Catholic Church. (2012). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Conserve Energy Future. (2015). Pollution Facts. In Conserve-energy-future.com. Retrieved from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-pollution-facts.php
National Wildlife Federation. (2015). What We do To Protect Wildlife. In Nwf.org. Retrieved from https://online.nwf.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32500&32500.donation=form1&s_subsrc=Web_MakeDiff_Donate_Sitewide
Pennsylvania State University. (Fall 2015). Lesson 4: The Environment [Online lesson slides]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa15/psych424/001/content/05_lesson/02_page.html
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). 40 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/marib/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/IE/XECQOEYI/40things-poster.pdf