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News from the State of New York’s Rural Wastewater Association notes that, due to the souring economy, the state Department of Environmental Conservation will have to cut its technical assistance programs to communities with wastewater treatment systems.

The news reads in part:

NYSDEC’s Division of Water has performed a comprehensive review of its legal obligations, environmental priorities, and available resources and determined that it can no longer deliver the operator certification, training, and technical assistance programs at the level they deserve. NYSDEC will respond to violations in accordance with its compliance and enforcement guidelines. If formal enforcement is warranted, NYSDEC will assess penalties in accordance with their guidelines. There may be cases in the past where NYSDEC would provide some technical assistance to help deal with operational problems or violations. NYSDEC is no longer able to provide these services. So the lack of technical assistance may result in prolonged violations that NYSDEC must address through formal enforcement.
This hits home because my job involves just this type of technical assistance to local communities that have...

With today's beatification of John Paul II, we Catholic ecologists should be rejoicing. This great pope, outdoorsman and athlete was a profound lover of nature. Our friends at the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Conservation Center provide much of his eco-writings.

This includdes one of his most important ecological treatises is his January 17, 2001 General Audience, which reads thus:



God made man the steward of creation

1. In the hymn of praise proclaimed a few moments ago (Ps 148: 1-5), the Psalmist summons all creatures, calling them by name. Angels, sun, moon, stars and heavens appear on high; 22 things move upon the earth, as many as the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, in order to give an impression of fullness and totality. The believer, in a sense, is "the shepherd of being", that is, the one who leads all beings to God, inviting them to sing an "alleluia" of praise. The Psalm brings us into a sort of cosmic church, whose apse is the heavens and whose...

Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a tornado chaser. Later, as a teen, well after I left the Church—after Confirmation when I thought I was too smart to be Catholic—I was certain I was going to be a meteorologist. There was always something about the drama of the weather—the soaring height of the meteorological heavens, the power, the beauty—that made me want to study it, observe it, be part of it.

Last week, after some of the worst tornado outbreaks in our nation’s history, I was stunned at the damage and the profound, unyielding human suffering that these storms brought to so, so many. Then I watched the videos posted by storm chasers. This one especially, about a minute into it:

I am no longer sure that I wish to be a voyeur of other people’s deaths, or the loss of their homes, businesses and communities.

Having grown in my faith these many years, I cannot watch the power of nature...

Two recent news reports showcase the toxic dangers of everyday products and how they may be hurting you and me and our environment. This news reminds us that God’s work in creation is still underway.

First, a study reported by EurekAlert tells us about what Indiana University scientists found when studying pet dogs: startlingly high levels of potentially dangerous flame retardants, especially polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs.

The story notes that

the current study also detected newer flame retardants that have come onto the market as PBDEs have been removed, including Dechlorane Plus, decabromodiphenylethane, and hexabromocyclododecane. The chemicals are largely unregulated but pose concerns because they are structurally similar to organic pollutants that have been linked to environmental and human health effects.
Another news story, this one from MercuryNews.com, reports findings of trace levels of rat poison being found in places it shouldn’t be.

The poison is turning up in wilder parts of California, too, alarming scientists. One such place is the central and southern Sierra...

Every so often, people feel the need to instruct me about how Christian feasts were “hijacked” or “stolen” or “copied” (or some other derogatory verb) from what they presume were peaceful pagan peoples.

The problem with this argument is that it has just enough historical accuracy to be absolutely wrong. And so we need to address this—especially as Catholic ecologists who spend a great deal of our time with nature. But, I need your indulgence because I just came home from the Easter Vigil—and as always this night has me soaring. Now we rejoice! With Lent over, death defeated and life renewed, we live in joy and hope for the new creation promised to us!

And so, to the topic at hand: What does one say when their coworker, friend, neighbor or relative smugly asserts that your whole faith is a lie, one that lifted its celebrations from pre-Christian cultures?

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
You water the mountains from your palace;

...

"What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.”

This, from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday, serves as a brief reminder of the cosmic implications of Christ’s death on the Cross—and what follows. Stay tuned.

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About the Blog

Catholic Ecology posts my regular column in the Rhode Island Catholic, as well as scientific and theological commentary about the latest eco-news, both within and outside of the Catholic Church. What is contained herein is but one person's attempt to teach and defend the Church's teachings - ecological and otherwise. As such, I offer all contents of this blog for approval of the bishops of the Church. It is my hope that nothing herein will lead anyone astray from truth.