By HAH Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome
Manila, The Philippines
February, 2000
Your Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of Hong Kong, Beloved guests here present: … We come… from our historic See in the Phanar of Constantinople, to the beautiful Philippine Islands for this visit to the small in number Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox Church, following the teaching of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition, accepts that God created the world “very good,” and that the poor functions of nature are a result of the disobedience of man to the correct path and way of life shown to him by God…. Because the plunder and the destruction of the natural environment come chiefly from human greediness and ego-centrism. Opposite to this stand, he who loves the Creator of the world and the natural environment, loves also his creation, because he respects it as the work of the one who loves him, and it is worthy of love and care.
“He who loves the Creator of the world,
loves also his creation…”
It is observed that almost all sensitive souls love and respect God the Creator and Father, but at the same time they admire and respect all that he has formed. While it is true that they use natural goods for their lives, they do not destroy nature without cause or for their own benefit. They enjoy these goods only with much care, [taking] only what is needed, so that the earth is maintained in a state of constant production, and that life will continue normally.
It is true that technological development has invited environmental aggravations, reaching far beyond the point of their emission. These include atmospheric, sea and water pollutants, radioactive pollutants, the destruction of the ozone, the global warming of the atmosphere, the penetration of toxic substances into the food chain, and others. For these side effects of technological development it appears that on occasion it is the subordinate one who is irresponsible, but if we look closer at things we shall affirm that each of us is able to do something for the betterment or the worsening of the situation.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has undertaken an effort to sensitize leaders as well as ordinary citizen to the seriousness of the problem. We have come to believe that the understanding of the problem and the knowledge of the governmental and individual measures taken contribute greatly to improving the situation. On the one hand, they exert effective pressure against those responsible for environmental aggravation by looking to abolish it; on the other hand, regardless of how small the contribution of each person to the formation of the general condition, the behavior of the large masses may seriously worsen or better the situation. On account of this, we do not consider the attempt to enlighten and sensitize the common opinion for the care of the natural environment to be in vain, but rather beneficial.
Keeping the environment clean and proper for life is an obligation of love toward our fellow persons who are directly touched by these problems and a providential responsibility for the future of our values and children. This responsibility of love… urges us to consider the problem of the protection of the environment as a serious concern which is not motivated by a pagan worship of nature, but from a most deep respect and love toward our Creator and toward our fellow man.
“Keeping the environment clean… is an obligation
of love toward our fellow persons… and a providential
responsibility for the future of our… children.”
We know that pollution problems exist in the Philippine Islands, especially in the capital. Wanting, therefore, to participate in confronting these problems and understanding that we may not be the proper individuals to demonstrate the right measures, but so that we might sensitize our fellow persons about this matter, we offer from our limited resources, through the Metropolitanate of Hong Kong, $10,000, so that a seminar might be organized on the protection of the environment. It would be possible to invite about 100 concerned citizens of the Philippines, so that they might become apostles, preachers and supporters of the necessity of undertaking the necessary environmental measures….
We hope that many of you will be able to attend [this] seminar [and] obtain a better understanding of the theme. We are sure that now you have proper awareness of the problem…. so that you can pass on the message of love to your fellow man….
We thank you for your attention and love and we extend to all of you wholeheartedly our paternal and Patriarchal blessing, wishing that God grant you every good. May his grace be upon you.
Amen