Group 2: Environment and Natural Resources Law Prelim Exam LLB-2nd Yr

Delabahan, Cel Lord P.

Dela Calzada, Michelle

Doldol, John Felix M.

LAUDATO SI Cloud 9 Script

Chapter 2: The Gospel of Creation

Sets 1 and 2, Chapter 2 of Laudato Si

Script for Set 1 and 2 Written and to be Read by: Doldol, John Felix

Doldol: Good evening to all our listeners out there. You are listening to our special
radio segment named Cloud 9. Im John Felix M. Doldol ,

Delabahan: I am Mr. Cel Lord Delabahan

Dela Calzada: I am Ms. Michelle Dela Calzada

Doldol: We are students of FSUU College of Law., Tonight we will discuss about
the Chapter 2 of the encyclical letter of our beloved Pope Francis from
Rome. If you have tuned in last Saturday of the same time as this evening,
the discussion for tonight is just the continuation of last weeks topic. I hope
that our listeners will enjoy this talk and learn something about the message
of our pope as well as the message of our mother earth.

Doldol: Under Chapter 2 of the Encyclical is the Discussion about the Gospel of
Creation. Have you not wonder why this encyclical includes this topic? Why
it include the topic of creation? Well, according to the encyclical in the
areas of politics and philosophy there are those who firmly reject the idea
of a Creator, or consider it irrelevant, and consequently dismiss as irrational
the rich contribution which religions can make towards an integral ecology
and the full development of humanity. Others view religions simply as a
subculture to be tolerated.

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Delabahan: Science and religion can enter into an intense dialogue, although their
interpretation of the reality is distinct from each other, helpful to both
entities.

Dela Calzada:, We must respect the different cultural differences. We have to respect
others culture, art. Etc., According to the encyclical If we are truly
concerned to develop an ecology capable of remedying the damage we
have done, no branch of the sciences and no form of wisdom can be left
out, and that includes religion and the language particular to it.

Doldol: In Fact, the catholic church is open with conversations with philosipical
thoughts, for this has enabled her to produce various syntheses between
faith and reason.. Although some people is motivated enough because of
their being humans to care about the environment they are part. Christians
in their turn realized their responsibility towards the Creature and the
Nature, as essential part of their faith.

Delabahan: In order to realize our faith as a Christians, and in order to address this
problem our environment is facing right now. We have to collaborate with
others in order to come out with fruitful solutions and at the same time it will
be in harmony with other believers and philosophical thoughts, scientific,
and not just for Christians.

Doldol: It is healthy if we come out with the solutions where reason and faith is
harmonized. It doesnt need to contradict.

Doldol: To continue, Pope Francis interprets the creation or how the creation is
written in our holy bible specifically in the first book the book of Genesis.

Dela Calzada: We are created us in Gods image and likeness, thus, we are not just
something. We are capable of self-knowledge and of self-possession and
we are capable of relating to each other as humans.

Delabahan: The creation accounted in the book of Genesis, accordingly, human life is
grounded in three intertwined relationship; with God, with our nature; and
with the nature;

Doldol: Suddenly, in just a blink of an eye, with the industrialization, with the
eagerness of possession, this intertwined relationship is now disrupted.
This is a sin, and we humans are the ones responsible for it. Because of
the presumption that we have to take the place of god, this relationships
are disrupted. We are here just as stewards, we are granted just the
dominion and the responsibility to till it and keep it.

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Delabahan: We have to reject the notion that we as created in likeness and image of
god and granted dominion, we are entitled to dominate some other
creations. We have to remember that We are not God. We as humans
are merely tasked to take care of the earth and to protect it from any kinds
of harm. We have to give it back to him as how it was given this to us.

Dela Calzada: This means that we are the servant of God, we must follow the rules or the
laws created by him in the bible. The laws found in the Bible dwell on
relationships, not only among individuals but also with other living beings.
Each creature possesses its own particular goodness and perfection
Each of the various creatures, willed in its own being, reflects in its own
way a ray of Gods infinite wisdom and goodness. Man must therefore
respect the particular goodness of every creature, to avoid any disordered
use of things.

Doldol: Although for some it is just a myth, When all the three relationships are
neglected, our life also is endangered. We can see it in the story of Noah.
God has threatened us to eliminate the human existence in the earth
because of our constant failure to fulfil our obligations to God, our
neighbors and his creations. I have determined to make an end of all flesh;
for the earth is filled with violence through them (Gen 6:13).

Delabahan: God is there, he is watching us, he is within us, thus we have no excuse
for whatever we have done. The Story of Noah is a proof that although god
loves us, he is also capable of inflicting punishments to us for our wrong
doings.

Dela Calzada: As created in the image and likeness of God and being capable of self-
knowledge, we have to come out of a solution to address these problems.
We have to consider what God has given to us. All creatures created by
God have given by him glory and value. Thus, the nature is not created in
subordination with humans but we are created of the same value.

Doldol: We have to ask ourselves now. What the earth has become. Why we
treated it like this. It is supposed to be our dominion not for exploitation but
for caring protecting and tilling. We have to give it back to him as how God
has given it to us. It was because of our wrongdoings, because we are
presuming to take the place of God. To end my part, and as a final question
directed to our listeners, who are we and what is our role in the greater
scheme of things in gods creations?

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Sets 3 and 4, Chapter 2

Script for Set 3 and 4 Written and to be Read by: Dela Calzada, Michelle

Atty. Ty: Thank you Mr. Doldol for a very structured opening of the topic. Let us now
proceed the next part, and to begin with, let us ask Ms. Michelle Dela
Calzada, our next guest: How did the harmony between the Creator,
humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted?

Dela Calzada: Good evening dean, good evening fellow guests/classmates and to our
listeners as well. To answer your question, this harmony was disrupted with
mans distorted mandate to have dominion over the earth. This distorted
notion has encouraged the unbridled exploitation of nature. We must
forcefully reject the notion that our being created in Gods image and given
dominion over the earth justifies absolute dominion over other creatures.
This is not the correct interpretation of the Bible as understood by the
Church.

Atty. Ty: What then is the Churchs interpretation on our mandate to have dominion
over the earth, to till it and to keep it?

Dela Calzada: Tilling refers to cultivating, ploughing or working while keeping means
caring, protecting, overseeing and preserving. This implies a relationship
of mutual responsibility between human beings and nature. Each
community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for
subsistence but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its
fruitfulness for the coming generations. Thus, God rejects the very claim of
absolute ownership.

Atty. Ty: What then is mans responsibility for Gods earth?

Dela Calzada: Human beings endowed with intelligence must respect the laws of nature
and the delicate equilibrium existing between the creatures of his world.

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 Together with our obligation to use the earths goods responsibly, we are
also called to recognize that other living beings have a value of their own
in Gods eyes. By virtue of the unique dignity and our gift of intelligence, we
are called to respect creation and its inherent laws. Each creature possess
its own particular goodness and perfection thus man must therefore respect
the particular goodness of every creature to avoid any disordered use of
things

Atty. Ty: What is the role of human beings?

Dela Calzada: As part of the world, we have the duty to cultivate their abilities in order to
protect it and develop its potentials. If we acknowledge the value and the
fragility of nature and at the same time our God given abilities, we can
finally leave behind the modern myth of unlimited material progress. A
fragile world, entrusted by God to human care, challenges us to devise
intelligent ways of directing, developing and limiting our power.

Atty. Ty: In the 2nd Chapter of Lau Dato Si, the concept of universal communion was
recognized. What does universal communion mean?

Dela Calzada: Universal communion means all of us are linked by unseen bonds and
together form a kind of universal family because we have one maker, we
are connected with each other. Everything is related and we human beings
are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven
together by the love of God has for each of his creatures and which also
unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and
mother earth.

Atty. Ty: As Christians, what is the basis of our conviction that, as part of the
universe called into being by one Father, all of us are linked by an unseen
bond and together form a kind of universal family.

Dela Calzada: The basis of our conviction is that every created thing in this universe is not
free of ownership by it is His, it is the Lords who love the living. Thus, we
are linked together by an unseen bond, by Gods love.

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Atty. Ty: In the Encyclical, Pope Benedict said that a sense of deep communion with
the rest of the nature couldnt be real if our hearts lack tenderness,
compassion and concern for our fellow beings. Can you expound on this or
give examples based on discussions in the encyclical letter?

Dela Calzada: This was explained by citing examples such as the inconsistencies if we
are to combat trafficking of endangered species while remaining completely
indifferent to human trafficking, unconcerned about the poor. Accordingly,
this contradiction compromises our struggle for the environment.

Certainly, we should be concern with other living beings treated

irresponsibly but we should be particularly indignant at the enormous
inequalities in our midst. We fail to see that some are mired in desperate
and degrading poverty wit no way out, while others have not the faintest
idea of what to do with their possessions.

Atty. Ty: What Pope Benedict then is saying its that our concern for the environment
needs to be to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an
unwavering commitment to resolving problems of society.

Dela Calzada: Yes Dean, because as cited, when our hearts are authentically open to
universal communion, this sense of fraternity excludes nothing and no one.
Our indifference and cruelty to other creatures of this world will sooner or
later affect the treatment we mete out to other human beings. Every act of
cruelty towards any creature is contrary to human dignity. We can hardly
consider ourselves to be fully loving if we disregard any aspect of reality:
Peace, justice and the preservation of creation are three absolutely
connected themes, which cannot be separated and treated individually

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Sets 5 and 6, Chapter 2 of Laudato Si

Script Written and to be Read by: Delabahan, Cel

Set 5

Dela Calzada: And as I end my discussion, ladies and gentlemen, let me first introduce our last
speaker for the evening, my fellow classmate, Mr. Cel Delabahan.

Delabahan: Good evening, Mams and sirs. Thank you for the commendable discussion,
maam. It is my first time to be on the show, and I will continue to discuss and
hopefully properly wrap up the 2nd Chapter of Laudato Si.

Dela Calzada: Cel, one last question before I give the floor to you, what do you think is Gods real
intention in leaving the earth to us, humans?

Delabahan: Thats a question that I will try to answer for the next 6 minutes, maam. To begin
with, Saint John Paul II stated that God gave the earth to the sustenance of all of
its members, without excluding or favoring anyone. Mind you, even coming from
the late pope, these are very strong words borne out from his decades worth of
studying the teachings of the lord.

Dela Calzada: Indeed, to think that the pope used to lead over a billion Roman Catholics, that
statement encapsulates that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance of and
for all beings, right?

Delabahan: Exactly! And not only that, maam. There is also this principle of subordination of
private property to the universal destination of goods. What this means, in laymans
term, is that these goods, in the form of resources of the earth, must be used in
such a way that it does not only benefit or favor a few.

Atty. Ty: Is it similar to what you learned in Civil Law, on the law regarding properties, like
for example, the properties of the state such as those in public dominion?

Delabahan: Yes, in a way, maam, but in a grander scale! Lets say in this discussion, the
properties in public dominion are not just the properties of the state for public use,
but all the resources and properties in the entire planet! And let us substitute the
State with God. God wants that these said resources be used for the benefit of
everyone, not only for us humans, but for all lifeforms on earth. These properties
should not be easily and readily handed to a few collective individuals, at the
expense of the rest. In short, if God were the State, he would have wanted for all
of these properties to be classified as public dominion, as he deems the natural
environment as a collective good; for the patrimony of all humanity, with emphasis
to the word ALL.

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Atty. Ty: So, following your analogy, if God is the state, and all the earths resources are of
public dominion, then as humans, what are we classified into?

Delabahan: Since authority over the earth emanates from God, the creator of all, then we are
just his mere subordinates, who must administer gods properties for the good of
all. We should not therefore usurp the powers of God by otherwise exploiting
Gods properties, or in this case, the earths resources, and making it as our own
private properties. Since gods mandate is simple, and that is, for the fruits of the
earth to be utilized by everyone, the duty of man is simply to recognize that it is not
the sole life form that shall enjoy gods creations. In short, we must share the fruits
to everyone, to any and all living things.

Atty. Ty: As gods subordinates in the administration of the earths resources, citing real life
examples, then how should we act on his behalf?

Delabahan: That question, maam, is what Chapter 2 of Laudato Si seeks to answer. And
before I answer that, as well as to wrap up tonights discussions, let us first listen
to this timeless masterpiece, written and sang by Dong Abay of Yano. Ladies and
gentlemen, I present Naroon.

Set 6

Delabahan: And we are back. To finish this nights discussion, let us first answer the question,
In behalf of God, what shall we, as humans, do, as administrators of the earths
resources?

First, like what we tried to compare earlier, if God were the State, and the earthly
resources as properties of public dominion, then we should liken ourselves as the
alter ego of God, if he were to be the head of state. We should act as a Secretary
of the DENR, responsible for the conservation, management, development and
proper use of the environment and natural resources.

Atty. Ty: Really? So you mean to say that we should issue timber licenses and mining
permits to private individuals or corporations? Isnt that the opposite of what god
intends to do?

Delabahan: In an ideal world, maam, if the DENR Secretary acts solely upon what the
President intends to do, in this case, with God as the head of state, then we should
only perform acts to protect the natural environment, and not the other way around.
Our duty as DENR Secretary shall be to implement the will of the President to
sustain the environment. Our duty should be ministerial, rather than discretional. It
is not for us to decide that these lands are suitable for mining, and thus give

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 permission for it to be exploited. It is for god to decide what to do with the fruits of
the earth, and god has strictly stated that it be used in such a way that it benefits
all, and not just a select few. God, in turn, commands us to merely administer his
property by conserving it, the entire planet, and not to take away his authority by
deliberately deciding for ourselves on how to subjugate the fruits of the earth for
our own consumption.

Atty Ty: Thats the ideal concept, Mr. Delabahan. In reality, we know it is not what is really
happening. Such is the challenge that is given to us by the pope through this latest
encyclical of the Catholic Church. So, as a parting question to you, your fellow
classmates, and to our listeners as well, as we end tonights fruitful discussion,
why do you think god created humankind to administer his creation?

Delabahan: Since we are created in the image and likeness of god, then it must also follow that
we embody a part of Jesus, the tangible part of him that is in love with all the
creations of the world. God expects us to see the beauty of his creation, as well as
realize the importance of each form of life in the greater scheme of things, since
we are after all molded from the bits and pieces of God himself. We are part of
Jesus, the son of the carpenter who lived in full harmony with nature and the rest
of humanity, the person who toiled all his life and preached love and compassion
for others. As the children of Jesus, we are expected to also love and give
compassion to his other creations, aside from our own selves.

Atty. Ty: Thats exactly the beauty behind the popes encyclical. As aptly titled, Laudato
Si, or praise be to you, my lord, and also through our sister, Mother Earth. See,
Saint Francis Assisi himself treats the rest of the earth as a sister of humankind.
In short, the earth is our equal, and not our subordinate. Thus, as final statement
to close this chapter, we must respect the creations of god, the same way we
respect and value or siblings. For after all, the earth and the life living on it are all
children of god.

Delabahan: Thank you very much dean for the very astute statement in ending the discussion
on the gospel of creation. Thank you also to my fellow classmates, Ms. Dela
Calzada and Mr. Doldol, for their thorough and comprehensive outputs on the
matter at hand. And thank you also for our dear listeners, once again, good evening
and may you have a blessed Sunday tomorrow!