EKOFEMINISME PERSPEKTIF PAUS FRANSISKUS DALAM LAUDATO SI’

Abstract

Ecology never ceases to pose questions and problems to humanity, and finally it also touches gender issues, which, among others, take on the inequality between men and women as underlying the problematic relationship between humankind and nature. The earth has much suffered under the exploiting drives of modern industrialization, which derives from an androcentric viewpoint in nature – humanity relationships. In this article the author would like to point out that all these issues related to ecology and feminism have drawn serious attention from the part of the Catholic Church leadership, particularly the current Pontiff, Pope Francis. He wrote a special papal encyclical, Laudato Si’, dealing with ecology, namely, how humankind should bring about a just and rightful relationship to, and attitude toward, nature, as the Divine Creator would wish them to be.

To achieve this purpose, the author starts with describing various strands within the movements of ecology and ecofeminism. Against the rich background of ecofeminism, the author goes on with expounding the salient points of the encyclical Laudato Si’ with a special attention as to how humans should treat the earth and nature as “sister”, imbued with care for its integrity and growth, for the praise of the Divine Creator. In this regard, the Blessed Virgin Mary is presented at the end of the encyclical letter as a Model for a Christian ecofeminist attitude toward the earth. The author of this article elaborates this mention, describing her as “Life-bearer Mother”, who by her faith unites herself with the work of redemption carried out by her divine Son, Jesus Christ.