Hope Amid Ecological Sin and Climate Emergency: Franciscan Writings

St. Francis of Assisi is commonly known as the Patron Saint of Ecologists. The Franciscan tradition provides a hope-filled vision of peace, justice, and sustainability for all of creation that is deeply compatible with the world’s spiritual traditions, and respectful of all life-giving ways. In 2015, drawing on the Franciscan spiritual and intellectual tradition, Pope Francis published Laudato Si’- On Care for Our Common Home. There he called the world to embrace a kind of “ecological conversion.”  In light of the Franciscan tradition, Dr. Dawn Nothwehr will address topics, such as “ecological sin” and impending environmental destruction, offering a positive path forward and practical tools necessary for conversion, planet-healing actions, and life-sustaining changes.

It’s easy to feel despondent with daily reports of ecological crisis in the news – from wildfires, to droughts, to floods & more. The dismal facts threaten to overwhelm us. But doom and gloom never did any good nor made any positive change. And, there is reason for real optimism — not wishful thinking — with a clear-eyed focus on solutions ready to hand and well within reach. Join our eminent speakers in this virtual lecture series to learn where they find hope — and why you should, too, — that empowers us all to respond to the ecological crisis.

Our speakers include:  Phoebe Barnard, PhD, CEO of the Stable Planet Alliance & Professor of Biodiversity and Environmental Futures at the University of Washington, Jeff Crane, PhD, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt University, Prof. Dr. Christof Mauch, Director of the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society at Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Jaclyn Bringuez, Senior Director of Development & Mallory Henig, Senior Manager, Individual and Planned Giving, both at Conservation International, and Dawn M. Nothwehr, OSF, Ph.D., Professor of Catholic Theological Ethics & The Erica and Harry John Family Endowed Chair in Catholic Ethics at Catholic Theological Union. Details for each lecture are given below.  Attend all five lectures, or just one.  All lectures are recorded with recordings distributed to all registrants. Register on www.eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stories-of-hope-amid-ecological-crisis-tickets-669424595987.  Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.