A new book has been released titled The Ecological Crisis is a Moral Crisis — a collection of ecological writings and transcripts of environmental lectures by Pope John Paul II.

During his lifetime, Pope John Paul II made numerous writings and talks on environmental issues, largely unheralded during his lifetime but unveiled after his death.

Through hundreds of homilies, exhortations, letters and presentations plus numerous declarations in papal encyclicals, Pope John Paul II connected individual behaviors to their ecological consequences and declared that every person has a responsibility before God to care for the earth and to work to halt environmental degradation.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Pope John Paul II integrated biblical theology with respect for the earth and the planet’s biological life support systems. He promoted this emerging awareness on every continent and before virtually every major cultural group, all the while promoting and encouraging a consistent ethic of respect for the life of the planet.

After entering the 21st century, the tempo of his environmental teaching quickened. At the same time he simplified his message into a blunt call for “ecological conversion.” In this call, he asks every person to know that environmental problems are among the most serious issues which humanity faces.

He says that he prays for the clergy and for every person to realize the urgent spiritual demand to change how we live so that God and creation might be respected. A central conclusion from his statements is that a Christian cares for and defends God’s creation.

In keeping with Pope John Paul II’s call for “ecological conversion,” this book is printed on a mix of kenaf and 100-percent recycled, post-consumer waste paper. No trees were cut to publish this collection.

The book is $17 plus $4 postage. To order a copy of the compilation, call the Religious Campaign for Forest Conservation at 707.573.3162. For more information about the connection between God and the environment, go to creationethics.org.