Faithful Citizenship in 2002

	Stewardship Stewardship: A Way of Life is the diocesan thrust. It invites Catholics to acknowledge that all of life is a gift of God and to respond through prayer, service and sharing. This series will look at ways to do that. Related articles ... from the 10/18/2002 Compass: • Part six -- Criminal Justice and Corrections • Eye on the Capitol: Faithful Catholic citizens called to get involved in elections from the 10/11/2002 Compass: • Part five -- Budget Shortfalls and Taxation from the 10/04/2002 Compass: • Part four -- Health Care from the 9/27/2002 Compass: • Part three -- Help for Families from the 9/20/2002 Compass: • Part two -- Human Life and Dignity from the 9/13/2002 Compass: • Part one -- Intro. and overview • Helping faithful Catholics decide

Last in a seven part series

Introduction

Wisconsin is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that nurture the lives and the spirits of its citizens.

Wisconsin's citizens have long taken their responsibilities as stewards of the environment seriously. Ours is a stewardship that recognizes that the food we eat, the products we consume and the energy we use impact not only Wisconsin's land and resources, but also communities abroad. This sense of stewardship is a reason that in many ways, Wisconsin is seen as a national leader in environmental protection.

Stewardship is an ongoing responsibility. Today there continue to be threats to the land, air and water, which are fundamental to the lives and the livelihoods of the human community. Moreover, while stewardship responsibility begins with each individual, public policies can serve to preserve the benefits of the natural environment for the common good of the people of Wisconsin today and tomorrow. Accordingly, the protection of the environment is always relevant for voters.

The Church on the Environment
and Agriculture

The story of creation teaches us that God formed the land and the water, the skies and the creatures and God granted the care of the creation to man and woman.

However, as the Catechism states, "Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation" (#2415).

Just as human beings are social and drawn into relationships, so is there a bond between people and creation. All of creation is interconnected. The use of the earth's resources and each individual's and community's consumption habits ripple through the natural world impacting land, air, and water and the lives of our brothers and sisters across the globe.

As Pope John Paul said, "We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well being of future generations" (John Paul II, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, 1990).

As for agriculture, the church has a long history of promoting responsible farming practices. Food is a fundamental component of life and each individual, whether as a producer or a consumer, is responsible for the impact of his or her choices on the current and future health of the land.

Questions for Candidates and Others 1. How would you promote responsible land use that enables us to protect farmland and vulnerable natural environments from over development? 2. Do you support efforts to reinvigorate local rural economies and to reclaim abandoned urban industrial sites and neighborhoods? 3. Where do you stand on farm policies that support small to moderate-sized, family-owned and operated farms? 4. Would you support policies that promote eating Wisconsin grown foods and other programs to more directly connect consumers with producers? 5. How do you view the regulatory role of government relative to the energy industry? Do you support efforts to reduce consumption and promote the development of alternative, renewable energy sources? 6. Do you support the Family Farm Protection Act?

The principles of Catholic social teaching affirm sustainable farms, because of the increased likelihood that small, family farms will be responsible stewards of the land and enhance promotion of the common good within local communities.

Environment and Agriculture
in Wisconsin

Among the issues pressing in Wisconsin today are concerns about land use, energy consumption, and the future of Wisconsin agriculture.

The expansion of urban communities places the agricultural lands surrounding them in jeopardy of conversion from agricultural use to suburban uses. Public policies should seek to encourage preservation of prime farmlands for future generations, ensure that the natural environment is protected and that the communities that develop are well planned.

Smart land use policies should also integrate issues of energy production and conservation. Public policies should seek to maximize production of energy from renewable sources and simultaneously encourage individuals and industry to reduce use by changing consumption patterns. Efforts to increase energy production or energy distribution capacity should consider the impact of those policies on the future health of Wisconsin's land, air and water.

Agricultural production is critically connected to Wisconsin's environment. Farming, particularly the dairy industry, is a major contributor to the state's economy. A quarter of rural employment is based on farming or food, but Wisconsin is losing farms at a rate of four or more a day.

Even with these losses, the majority of dairy farms in Wisconsin are still small to moderate in size and family owned. According to the UW-Program on Agricultural Technology Studies, over 99% of dairy farms in the state are family owned and 85% have fewer than 100 cows.

At the same time the number of large livestock operations in Wisconsin is growing. In 1998, Wisconsin saw an 18% increase in the number of permitted animal facilities over 1,000 animal units.

As farms grow in size, they are increasingly either owned or under contract with major food processors. In the process, control of food production -- and control of the food supply -- becomes more centralized.

	Other Resources "Economic Justice for All: A Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching on the U.S. Economy," by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1986. "Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good," USCCB, 2001. "Renewing the Earth," USCC, 1991. "Toward Community in the Heartland: Strangers and Guests, A Pastoral Letter by the Bishops of the Midwest," 1980.

While many of the economic hardships facing the small farmer today are the result of federal and global policies, as well as the choices of all of us as consumers, there are opportunities to promote reforms in Wisconsin that can educate consumers about agricultural issues and modify the state's approach to large-scale and sustainable farms in the state.

The Family Farm Protection Act

One set of reforms supported by the WCC is the Family Farm Protection Act. Introduced earlier this year, this bill addresses concerns regarding consolidation (vertical integration) in farming, contract farming, environmental issues present with large confined animal feeding operations, manure storage and manure spreading plans and standards for all farms, and promotion of smaller scale market development for Wisconsin grown products.

As stewards of creation we continue to seek to fulfill God's purpose for our natural world. In our own actions and choices, our communities, our work and our public policies we should affirm a Catholic ecological ethic that upholds the goodness of all of God's creation.