Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, offered 10 principles drawn from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Here is an abbreviated version:

1. The human being, created in God's image, is placed above all other earthly creatures, which must be used and cared for in a responsible way.

2. Nature must not be reduced to a utilitarian object of manipulation, nor absolutized or placed above human dignity.

3. Ecological responsibility involves the entire planet in a common duty to respect a collective good, for present and future generations.

4. In dealing with environmental problems, ethics and human dignity should come before technology.

5. Nature is not a sacred or divine reality, removed from human intervention. Thus, human intervention that modifies some characteristics of living things is not wrong, as long as it respects their place in the ecosystem.

6. The politics of development must be coordinated with the politics of ecology, and every environmental cost in development projects must be weighed carefully.

7. Ending global poverty is related to the environmental question, remembering that the goods of the earth must be shared equitably.

8. The right to a safe and clean environment needs to be protected through international cooperation and accords.

9. Environmental protection requires a change in styles of life that reflect moderation and self-control, on a personal and social level. That means moving away from the logic of consumerism.

10. Environmental issues also require a spiritual response and a greater awareness that the created world is a gift of God.

Wow.  "duty to respect the collective good"..."dignity should come before technology"...."the goods of the earth must be shared equitably".  Eat yer heart out, Che.

Msgr. Carlo Rocchetta, who works as a sort of chaplain to Italian farming organizations, took a more traditional approach and used the Ten Commandments schema -- though his adaptation would never fit on stone tablets:

1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not cause situations of danger or death in the order of nature, especially if they can become permanent and uncontrollable.

2. You shall not commit violence to the created world and its integrity: There exists an "ecological sin" that offends me, just as a personal or social sin offends me.

3. Remember to respect the unity of the life-system and the interdependence that exists among beings: The future of humanity is at stake. Seek a lifestyle that is moderate, just and respectful of nature and the common good.

4. Honor the variety of living creatures, flora and fauna: It is a gift and a richness for all; do not impoverish or destroy it. Appreciate biodiversity; value and promote it.

5. You shall not kill economic democracy, social justice and solidarity in the name of economic and financial powers that cancel the freedom, creativity and initiative of smaller entrepreneurs.

6. You shall not use the genetic patrimony and the knowledge of the human genome for profit or gain: All that is written in creation is shared and should serve the good of all humanity.

7. You shall not steal or create new forms of poverty and exploitation of the weakest, using a perverse economic system in which the poor make the rich richer.

8. You shall not bear false witness to consumers, lying about products, generating food insecurity or even disease. Respect life in all its forms and work to produce safe foods.

9. You shall not desire agriculture without farmers, anonymous and unconnected to the land. Value the task of "custodian" and "cultivator" that I entrusted to man from the beginning.

10. You shall not destroy traditional regional products or those of quality, the tastes and flavors of the earth; do not contaminate healthy seeds and livestock with cultures and fodder that may not be safe. Intervene in nature to improve it, not to threaten or do violence to its delicate balance.

This is definitely the more staid of the two, but still radical in its thought and in its implications.  Even acknowledging that there is such a thing as "ecological sin" would get you barred from most political fund-raising events, whether they be Democratic or Republican.  Railing against a "perverse economic system in which the poor make the rich richer" is not the stuff of even the most Liberal elected officials.

I think this is good news for anyone who cares about the environment.  At the very least, it could (but probably won't) re-energize interest in the environmental movement beyond the ubiquitous and overblown claims of ridding our dependence on foreign oil.  If you want to improve the environment, start with the Farm Bill.  Start with the economic, spiritual, and physical costs of poor stewardship.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories /cns/0803279.htm