2-1-01 International Pastoral Letter by the Catholic Bishops of the Columbia River Watershed

8/16/2019 2-1-01 International Pastoral Letter by the Catholic Bishops of the Columbia River Watershed

1/34

The Columbia River Watershed: Caring

for Creation and the Common Good

An International Pastoral Letter by the

Catholic Bishops of the Region

“God saw all that had been made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)

“We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem withot !aying de attention both to the

conse"ences of sch interference in other areas and to the well#being of ftre generations $

delicate ecological balances are !set by the ncontrolled destrction of animal and !lant life or by

a rec%less e&!loitation of natral resorces. 't shold be !ointed ot that all of this, even if carried

ot in the name of !rogress and well#being, is ltimately to hman%inds disadvantage.... n

edcation in ecological res!onsibility is rgent: res!onsibility for oneself, for others, and for the

earth.”

##*o!e +ohn *al '', The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility , 1-

“We mst e&!and or nderstanding of the moral res!onsibility of citiens to serve the common

good$”

##/he 0atholic isho!s of the 2nited tates, Economic Justice for All , 145

“/he fndamental relation between hmanity and natre is one of caring for creation.”

##/he 0atholic isho!s of the 2nited tates, Renewing the Earth, 11

“We need to ree&amine the ways we thin% and act, to affirm and s!!ort what we are !resently

doing that is environmentally res!onsible and to criti"e and challenge what is irres!onsible and

nsstainable.”

##/he 0atholic isho!s of lberta, 0anada, Celebrate Life: Care for Creation, 14

(c) 2 Columbia Ri!er "astoral Letter "ro#ect$ "ermission is grante% to &uote from this%ocument' with appropriate attribution' for #ournalistic' e%ucational' or %iscussion purposes$

Caring for Creation, Community and the Columbia

-1-


2/34


3/34

The Columbia Ri!er atershe%: Caring for Creation an% the Common oo% focses

!articlarly on or common res!onsibilities for or region. 'n this !astoral letter we will e&!lore

biblical and 0atholic 0hrch teachings abot stewardshi!< the need to res!ect natre< and the

need to recognie and !romote the common good. /hese themes are consistent with a 0hristian

belief that the earth is a creation of God intended to serve the needs of all creation.

Caring for Creation

/he 0olmbia Watershed and all creation are entrsted to or loving care. s !ersons

created in the image of God and as stewards of creation (Genesis 1#7), we are challenged to both

se and res!ect created things. /he watershed is ltimately Gods< hman beings are entrsted

with res!onsibility for it, concern for its s!ecies and ecology, and reglation of its com!etitive and

com!lementary ses.

/he watershed, seen throgh eyes alive with faith, can be a revelation of Gods !resence,

an occasion of grace and blessing. /here are many signs of the !resence of God in this boo% of

natre, signs that com!lement the nderstandings of God revealed in the !ages of the ible, both

the =ebrew and 0hristian cri!tres.

Caring for Community

*eo!le are created in the image and li%eness of God and are called to be neighbors to one

another. We are created as social beings who mst e&ercise a certain res!onsibility toward or

neighbors. >ach is res!onsible, in !art, for !romoting the good of the entire hman commnity and

the good of or common home.

Caring for our Common Home

/he watershed is the common home and habitat of Gods creatres, a sorce of hman

livelihood, and a setting for hman commnity. /he commons belongs to everyone, and yet

belongs to no one. We hold this land in trst for or !resent se, for ftre generations, and

ltimately for God, from whom all good things come. 't is intended by God to be sed for the well#

being of all its hman inhabitants, !resent and ftre.

/he common good demands a !ro!er res!ect for the land, the air and the water to assre that

when we have !assed throgh this land it remains habitable and !rodctive for those who come

after s.

-3-


4/34

/he recognition of the !resence and !lan of God challenges s to wor% to nderstand better the

ecosystems of or region and to see% to tilie its goods ;stly while res!ecting the vale of all its

creatres.

Commitment to Creation and the Common Good

/he !reservation of the 0olmbia Watersheds beaty and benefits re"ires s to enter

into a gradal !rocess of conversion and change. r goal is to review very broadly the !resent

sitation of the watershed< to reflect on or common regional history< to imagine a viable,

sstainable ftre for the watershed< and to see% ways to realie or vision.

/herefore, we offer for reflections, entitled: “/he 6ivers of or 9oment,” “/he 6ivers throgh or

9emory,” “/he 6ivers in or ?ision,” and “/he 6ivers as or 6es!onsibility.” We sggest that

!eo!le will have to change some crrent !ractices to transform the watershed into an economically

and ecologically sstainable !lace.

A Project in Process

s 0atholic bisho!s, we offer a !astoral reflection s!o%en with a voice of faith and

com!assion, offering insights drawn from the teachings of +ess 0hrist and from the 0hristian

tradition throgh the ages, !articlarly the develo!ing 0atholic social ethical thoght of the !ast

centry. We teach with *o!e +ohn *al '' that @0hristians, in !articlar, realie that theirres!onsibility within creation and their dty toward natre and the 0reator are an essential !art of

their faith.@ (The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility , hereafter >0, A 18)

We ho!e that the vales we e&!ress, the isses we raise, and the insights we offer will

serve as a catalyst for frther discssion toward the resoltion of the com!le& isses of the

0olmbia 6iver Watershed. We invite !eo!le to e&!lore with s the im!lications of the 0hristian

idea of hman stewardshi! of creation, and to effect a s!irital, social and ecological

transformation of the watershed.

I. The Rivers of Our Moment

When !eo!le travel in the 0olmbia 6iver Watershed they see areas of !ristine beaty,

where the handiwor% of God is hardly toched by hman interventions. /hey see areas of ordered

beaty, where !eo!le have wor%ed well with the land and water in their care. nd they see areas of

-4-


5/34

blight, where !eo!le have disregarded their res!onsibilities to their 0reator, their commnity and

their environment.

0ontradictions in hman behavior are evident throghot the region. /here are beatifl

farms and deteriorated riverban%s< degraded forests and landsca!ed commnity !ar%s< chemical

and radioactive wastes see!ing into the rivers< and conscientios children cleaning streambeds. 'n

areas of 0anada, e&tremes in river levels that !revent the e&istence of both natral ecologies and

hman enter!rises are cased by dams bilt !rimarily to meet 2.. needs for energy and at times

for flood control. 'n both contries, we share the watershed with members of the animal %ingdom.

We are stewards of this ecosystem with its diversity of life. What is the crrent condition of or

regionB

/hroghot the !ast centry indstrial develo!ment !rovided needed goods and ;obs in

the watershed and beyond. ometimes this develo!ment has reslted in harm for the watershed.

Cams !rovide energy, and alminm !lants !rovide air!lane !arts. t the constrction and se ofthese hman strctres have been accom!anied by the loss of fishing#related enter!rises. 2..

dams !rovide irrigation, bt dams north of the border have reslted in flooded 0anadian lands and

commnities, de!riving families of their homes, farms and bsinesses. 9odern technology has

!rovided better living, bt has also !rodced chemical and radioactive waste storage sites that

!ose serios threats for the area.

/he endangerment and !ossible e&tinction of the areaDs animal and fish s!ecies are of

notable concern in or day. /he s!ecific cases of, and remedies for, salmon endangerment and

e&tinction are hotly debated in the region.

'ndigenos !eo!les of the watershed ## called Eirst Fations in 0anada and Fative

mericans in the 2nited tates ## have ni"e cltres and insights. t native !eo!les have been

targets of racism, and e&!erience economic hardshi!s. /he terms of treaties made with them, sch

as the 1488 treaty with the a%amas in the 2nited tates, often have not been res!ected.

'ndigenos !eo!les in the region see% the freedom to e&ercise fishing and water rights once

thoght to be garanteed by treaties.

gricltre is a valable contribtor to commnity life and to the economic well#being in

or region. ome o!erations crrently are !artially de!endent on irrigation water and energy

s!!lied by dams. wner#o!erated family farms are on the decline, with conse"ent im!acts on

rral bsinesses, schools and commnities. gricltral chemicals are sed to control !ests and

increase !rofits, bt these can also be sorces of !olltion of land and water. 2nmanaged entry of

livestoc% into rivers can damage riverban% habitat and harm a"atic life. 6es!onsibly rn family

farms, and res!onsibly managed cor!orate agribsiness o!erations, are im!ortant in or region as

-5-


6/34

sorces of food and as stabiliing economic inflences. /heir well#being is vital to the economic life

of the watershed.

9ining has !rovided ;obs and fnded schools, bt its resides sometimes leave the land

and waters tainted. 'n the watershed, one finds e&am!les of hge clean! sites as well as

environmentally dangeros wor%ing conditions. y contrast, there are also indstrial o!erations

that stand as models of res!ect for !eo!les health and which e&em!lify a !ro!er stewardshi! of

the watershed.

Eorestry has !rovided needed lmber for homes and indstry, and ;obs for loggers, mill

wor%ers, trc%ers, !lant managers and s!!ort staff. 'n some !laces, timber harvesting and road

constrction harm local areas by casing increased rnoff and sedimentation. >&em!lary forest

stewards are cogniant of the im!act of their indstry on the srronding land and rivers, as well as

on the wor%ers and commnities where their bsiness is located.

Wor%ing !eo!le are concerned abot finding or %ee!ing em!loyment in the watershed.

Hand#related occ!ations sch as farming, fishing, forestry and shi!!ing are directly lin%ed to the

flowing waters of the river networ%. 9any other ;obs are tied to them as well. /he economy is

de!endent on the health of the regional ecosystem. /here are limited land and water resorces,

des!ite seeming abndance, es!ecially in arid areas. *olitical, bsiness, labor and religios

leaders are striving collaboratively, in some areas, to integrate the needs of commnities, wor%ers

and the environment.

0onsolidation of ownershi! of land and commercial enter!rises occrs in the region.

*eo!le are see%ing clear ethical gidelines and standards to !romote ;st !ro!erty distribtions,a!!ro!riate access to land and water, and an e"itable sharing of regional goods.

6ecreational ses of the land !rovide needed rest and rec!eration for !eo!le.

>nvironmental im!acts of varios ty!es of recreational !rsits are being assessed. *eo!le need

!laces for "iet reflection, meditation, a!!reciation of Gods creation, rela&ed fishing and rigoros

e&ercise. ther creatres need habitat for shelter and re!rodction.

We are blessed in the diversity of or !eo!les and of or land. renewed a!!reciation for

both is contribting to increased commnity well#being and ecological health in or region.

Signs of Hope

We see signs of ho!e amid the !roblems of the watershed. 9any !eo!le live res!onsibly

from, and wor% with, the gifts and goods of the 0olmbia and its tribtaries. 9any nderstand that

their own or others actions have cased harm. /hey are striving to gide hman activities and

-6-


7/34

sha!e cor!orate o!erations and commnity consciosness with the ethics of stewardshi! of

creation.

We see signs of ho!e in the scientific stdies of agricltral, fishing, trans!ortation and energy

needs. 6enewed ho!e is evident in a new consciosness among government officials and

bsiness entre!reners abot the im!act of !ast abses of the rivers environment and their

e&!ressed intentions to avoid similar abses in the ftre. /here is ho!e in the varios !ro!osals

for carrying ot a res!onsible clean! of the devastation wroght by varios o!erations of the !ast.

?arios conservation and s!ecies#strengthening measres bode well for the ftre.

>fforts to se !rofits from 2.. dam o!erations to com!ensate 0anadian commnities most heavily

im!acted are a sign of a stronger sense of ;stice. /he com!assionate and constrctive e&change

of ideas by !eo!le of diverse and sometimes com!etitive interests is more and more common.

Greater commnity involvement, by which local citiens reflect on local isses and see% to address

them, shows an a!!ro!riate concern and res!onsibility for the common good.

Spiritual and Social Consciousness

r awareness of the !resence of God, who is lovingly concerned abot creation, and or

o!enness to Gods grace enlightening and strengthening s, enable s to confront the conditions

that concern s, and to affirm and commend the signs of ho!e that we see.

ne of the %ey conce!ts that a!!lies to or entire discssion is sim!ly res!ect. 'ndstry mst

res!ect !eo!le and natre and ta%e !articlar care to be cogniant of its im!act on the common

good. *eo!le mst e&ercise a basic res!ect for one another, for God, for other creatres and for

the environment. 'ndividals also need to res!ect the rights of others, inclding those engaged in

agricltre, mining, forestry and the li%e.

We mst become increasingly aware of the needs of !eo!le, or neighbors< of the sanctity of life,

from conce!tion to natral death< and of the integrated ecosystem whose benefits and com!le&ities

we share. We are called to relate to !eo!le as neighbors and to or shared !lace as or common

home. We recognie or res!onsibility for this !lace, a sign of Gods creative !ower that is blessed

by Gods !resence. We are res!onsible to God and to the commnity and we are res!onsible for

the creation arond s.

II. The Rivers through Our Memory

/he second ste! in s!irital, social and ecological transformation is to reflect on the waters of or

memory as they are e&!ressed in regional and religios traditions. /he history of the 0olmbia

Watershed is described in !eo!leDs written and oral stories, and is evident in geological formations

and biological diversity.

-7-


8/34

Regional Traditions

'n the watershed, the natral !hysical laws instilled in creation by God control the tectonic

!late collisions, floods, glaciers and earth"a%es that sha!e the land and waters. 9igrations of

animals and !eo!le have given new forms to the land, and broght abot new relationshi!s among

creatres and between creatres and the earth.

=man commnities entering the watershed ada!ted to, or altered, natral settings. long

the 0olmbia 6iver, the first !eo!les in the region (even thogh they were sometimes in conflict

with each other over village, hnting or fishing sites) generally ada!ted themselves to 0he Wana,

the Great 6iver. /hey %new a continos river, ndivided by !olitical bondaries. /hey fished for

salmon, hnted wild game and gathered roots and berries to sstain themselves.

Fative religions taght res!ect for the ways of natre, !ersonified as a nrtring mother for all

creatres. /hey saw the salmon as food from this mother, and the river as the sorce of their life

and the life of the fish. /hey ada!ted themselves to the river and to the cycles of the seasons.

mong the Wana!m, the 6iver *eo!le, some elders were set a!art as dreamers and healers,

res!ected for their visions and healing !owers.

>ro!eans and >ro#mericans made their way west beginning in the 15th centry. n

merican e&!lorer, 0a!tain 6obert Gray, renamed the great river @0olmbia@ in 1I7. /ra!!ers and

traders came to !rovide the basis for a 2nited tates claim to the river region and to establish new

forms of commerce in the area. fter the tra!!ing of beaver and other fr#bearing animals ceased

to be !rofitable, new immigrants entered the region, established homesteads and towns, and

trned to agricltre and to salmon as sorces of food and livelihood.

2nreglated fishing and cannery indstries seriosly de!leted salmon s!!lies. /he 6iver

*eo!le were forced to live a modified way of life on severely diminished lands, with less abndant

salmon rns. >ventally, dams on the 0olmbia#na%e river system, and o!en sea fishing

o!erations in the *acific cean had frther im!acts on the s!ecies. 'n 18I, the o!ening ! of the

Calles Cam destroyed 0elilo Ealls, a tremendosly im!ortant Fative merican fishing area.

esides these hman interventions, climatic changes cold im!act salmon !o!lations. 6egional

and global warming, which alters water tem!eratres and salmon !redators habits, may also

accelerate declines in salmon !o!lations.

=man commnities in the watershed have oral and written memories of its ongoing

history. 'n this commnity memory there are elements of a commnity conscience, a moral sense

of a!!ro!riate social interaction develo!ed over time and ada!ted to and lived in each new era.

6es!onsible commnity memories recall not only moments of achievement, bt also moments of

social insensitivity.

-8-


9/34

6egional !eo!le in the 2nited tates have commnity myths abot the West ## myths

abot rgged individalism< absolte ownershi! @rights@< a narrow economic way of valing !laces,

things and even !eo!le< and a myth that the West was @won@ withot government assistance. ch

myths sometimes ma%e it difficlt for !eo!le to nderstand the im!ortance of ecosystems, and the

benefits of government !olicies to conserve natral goods for the whole commnity.

Religious Traditions

*eo!les of the rivers have a religios memory. 'n the 0atholic tradition, that memory

incldes biblical and 0hrch teachings abot hman res!onsibilities for creation.

God, who alone can create, invites !eo!le to !artici!ate in divine creativity. /hs, hmans

have a ni"e role. 'n the !hysical niverse, they alone are consciosly able to be careta%ers of

creation. 'n the !hysical order, only hmans, with the abilities granted to them, can nderstandcreatres soaring in the heights or swimming in the de!ths, and can come to %now the laws of

biology, chemistry and !hysics that inflence creation. /hey are called to se these nderstandings

to describe, celebrate, develo! and care for creation. /hey are created in the image and li%eness of

God and are commissioned as stewards of GodDs created and beatifl niverse.

0reated in the image of God (Genesis 1:75#7I), hmans are to recognie that all of Gods

wor%s and creatres, as they emerge from Gods creative loving !ower, are @very good” (Genesis

1:31). God cares for these creatres.

t the end of the Genesis flood story, God ma%es a covenant, whose sign is the rainbow, with@every living creatre@ and with @the earth@ (Genesis :17#13). Wisdom says of God: @o love all

things that are ... yor im!erishable s!irit is in all thingsJ@ (Wisdom 11:7K< 17:1). +ob reveals Gods

!rovidence for all creatres (+ob 34#K1). 'n the *salms the !oet calls !on all creation to @!raise

the Hord@ (*salm 1K4).

/he athor of irach e&claims: @=ow beatifl are all Gods wor%sJ >ven to the s!ar% and fleeting

visionJ /he niverse lives and abides forever< to meet each need, each creatre is !reserved. ll of

them differ, one from another, yet none of them has LGodM made in vain, for each in trn, as it

comes, is good< can one ever see enogh of their s!lendorB@ (irach K7:73#78).

'n the Gos!el according to H%e, +ess notes that God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers

of the fields as well as for !eo!le (H%e 17:7K#74). 'n the Hetter to the 0olossians we are taght

that God was !leased throgh 0hrist @to reconcile all things ... whether those on earth or those in

heaven@ (0olossians 1:7-). *eo!le are called to live in Gods !resence solicitos of the wondros

wor%s of God: the earth and the earths inhabitants.

-9-


10/34

tewardshi! is the traditional 0hristian e&!ression of the role of !eo!le in relation to

creation. tewards, as careta%ers for the things of God, are called to se wisely and distribte

;stly the goods of Gods earth to meet the needs of GodDs children. /hey are to care for the earth

as their home and as a beatifl revelation of the creativity, goodness and love of God. 0reation is

a “boo% of natre” in whose living !ages !eo!le can see signs of the !irit of God !resent in theniverse, yet se!arate from it.

/he individal members of the hman family are called to res!ect both creation and 0reator and

are res!onsible for that !art of the earth entrsted to their stewardshi!, whether by !ro!erty rights

or other legal or managerial res!onsibility. /hey are to ta%e care of the earth ot of res!ect for the

0reator who loves all creatres, and ot of a charity that calls s to love or neighbor.

r ni"e role in creation as Gods stewards carries with it a serios res!onsibility for

service to God and to creation. s +ess teaches s, when we are given !ositions of res!onsibility,

we are called to serve and not to be served by those in or care< we are not to @lord it over them@(ee 9atthew 7-:78#74.) We neither worshi! creation nor are worshi!ed by creation< we relate to

creation as its stewards, with the ni"e res!onsibilities that God has entrsted to s.

0reation !rovides the o!!ortnity for s!irital contem!lation becase it is from God and

reveals God. /he natral world of creation is not itself to be worshi!ed. 't is not an atonomos

being, bt a revelation of the wondros !ower and love of its 0reator. 'n the created niverse we

may !erceive the brsh stro%es of a loving God.

/he bisho!s of the 2nited tates have voiced this sentiment in Renewing the Earth, declaring that

the 0hristian vision of the niverse ## “a world that discloses the 0reators !resence by visible andtangible signs ## can contribte to ma%ing the earth a home for the hman family once again.@ nd

in elo"ent words the bisho!s of lberta, 0anada, in their statement: Celebrate Life: Care for

Creation' teach that @the abndance and beaty of Gods creation reveal to s something of the

generosity of the 0reator. God is !resent and s!ea%s in the dynamic life forces of or niverse and

!lanet as well as in or own lives. 6es!ect for life needs to inclde all creation.@

>ach !ortion of creation can be sign and revelation for the !erson of faith, a moment of grace

revealing Gods !resence to s. r minds and s!irits can catch glim!ses of God in moments of

solitde, reflection and grace in GodDs wondros creation.

The Columbia and the Common Good

s the whole niverse can be a sorce of blessing or revelation of God, so also the

commons of a local !lace can be revelatory. 'n a setting sch as the 0olmbia 6iver Watershed,

the signs of Gods creativity and !resence are abndant. /he startling beaty of a snowca!!ed

montain or a colorfl snset, a river valley or a starlit night, the sight of a well#%e!t farm integrated

-10-


11/34

with its srrondings or the free flight of a bird ## all !oint beyond themselves to the 0reator of the

niverse. 'n words ta%en from the oo% of Wisdom in the =ebrew cri!tres: @Erom the greatness

and the beaty of created things their original athor, by analogy, is seen@(Wisdom 13:8).

igns of GodDs !resence are evident in all of creation. When we are o!en to the !irit of God we

may e&!erience the loving !resence of God among s.

'n biblical teachings and the 0hristian tradition the earth is intended by God to !rovide for

the needs of !eo!les as they live in com!le& and diverse ecosystems. /he ible teaches that

!eo!le shold distribte !ro!erty and goods ;stly. 'n the boo% of the cts of the !ostles in the

0hristian cri!tres, a descri!tion of an early 0hristian commnity in +ersalem states that the

members @had all things in common@ (cts 7:KK) so that the needs of all might be met.

/he docments of the econd ?atican 0oncil li%ewise reference the common good: “/he state

has the dty to !revent anyone from absing his !rivate !ro!erty to the detriment of the common

good. y its natre !rivate !ro!erty has a social dimension which is based on the law of common

destination of earthly goods” (The Church in the *o%ern orl% , A I1, 158).

r !resent =oly Eather, *o!e +ohn *al '', declared that @!rivate !ro!erty, in fact, is nder a

social mortgage, which means that it has an intrinsically social fnction, based !on and ;stified

!recisely by the !rinci!le of the niversal destination of goods@ (+n ,ocial Concern, A K7).

iving !ater

/he ible and or 0hristian tradition teach s abot the benefits of water, which is seen

both literally and figratively as a giver of life. %ey !hrase sed in these sorces of or s!iritalityis “living water.” 'n the =ebrew cri!tres, living water meant water that is flowing free and !re< it

is contrasted with water from wells or cisterns, which tended to be stagnant and ndesirable.

'n the 0hristian cri!tres, +ess a!!ro!riated the term “living water” to refer to himself as the

sorce of genine s!irital life. =e a!!lied this symbol to himself becase he %new that !eo!le

de!end on water for their srvival as individals and as commnities< that water sla%es thirst and

"enches fields and livestoc% as well as wild creatres. Water, sed in religios ceremonies, gives

life to or s!irits, too. 't is the element sed to symbolie s!irital cleansing and a sign of GodDs

grace conferred !on s.

Water was !resent at significant actal and symbolic moments of GodDs revelation to

hmanity. /he !ro!hets of old envisioned a !lace where s!irital waters and earthly waters flowed

together, with the earthly waters a symbol of the s!irital. 'saiah !roclaimed, @' will !or ot water

!on the thirsty grond, and streams !on the dry land< ' will !or ot my s!irit !on yor offs!ring,

and my blessing !on yor descendants@ (KK:3), and @ll yo who are

-11-


12/34

thirsty, come to the waterJ@ (88:1). nd >e%iel (KI:1#17) saw water flowing from beneath the

tem!le and becoming a river along whose ban%s trees grew abndantly. =e added that “Wherever

the river flows, every sort of living creatre that can mlti!ly shall live, and there shall be abndant

fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.@ >e%ielDs vision is recalled later

by the seer of 6evelation (1#7).

+ess was ba!tied by +ohn in the flowing waters of the +ordan 6iver (9ar% 1:). t the tem!le,

+ess e&claimed: “Het anyone who thirsts come to me and drin%. Whoever believes in me, as

scri!tre says, N6ivers of living water will flow from within him.D (+ohn I:3I#34). +ess told the

amaritan woman that he gives @living water@ to those who as% (+ohn K:K#18). Water flowing from

+ess side at his crcifi&ion is richly symbolic< by his death he offers eternal life to all (+ohn 1:31#

3I). +ess told his followers to ma%e disci!les of all nations, @ba!tiing them@ with water (9atthew

74:14#7-). /he living water offered by +ess for or s!irit and the living water in Gods creation for

or body are both life#giving waters ## one natral, the other s!ernatral.

/he 0olmbia 6iver and its tribtaries are intended by God to be living water: bontifl and

healthy !roviders for the common good. /he water itself is to be a clear sign of the 0reators

!resence.

Church Teachings about the and

'n the 0atholic tradition, for more than a centry, chrch leaders have develo!ed teachings

on social ;stice. ocial ;stice for !eo!le and !ro!er res!ect for the earth are now seen as related

isses. /he 0atholic bisho!s of the 9idwest state that @the way in which we relate to the land will

affect the e&tent to which the land will contine to !rovide or sstenance and livelihood@ (from

,trangers an% uests)< and the 0atholic bisho!s of the 2nited tates teach that @the fndamental

relation between hmanity and natre is one of caring for creation@ (Renewing the Earth).

imilarly, *o!e +ohn *al '' instrcts s that @L/here shold be a !riority ofM the !reservation of the

environment over ncontrolled indstrial e&!ansion@ (0anada, 14K), and that @the ible s!ea%s

again and again of the goodness and beaty of creation.... /he ecological crisis is a moral isse@

(The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility , 1-, A 1K, 18).

/he 0anadian 0onference of 0atholic isho!s too% ! these themes, calling for res!ect for

regional ecologies. /hese 0hrch teachings !oint to the need to wor% for ;stice for !eo!le, and

!ro!er stewardshi! of the earthDs goods.

'n the 2nited tates, 0anada, and globally, a ma;ority of the earths goods are controlled

by a minority of individals. While many !eo!le lac% lifes basic necessities, others have more than

an e&cess for a lifetime. /his gross imbalance is harmfl to hmanity and, to the e&tent that

singlar individals have consmed more than a reasonable share of earthDs resorces, they have

-12-


13/34

harmed creation. Good stewards of creation se what they need and recognie that others, both

those !resently living and ftre generations, have a right to en;oy the frits of the earth as well.

s !eo!le have become more absorbed by material things and less conscios of s!irital and

social relationshi!s, consmerism has re!laced com!assion, and e&!loitation of the earth has

re!laced stewardshi!. /here is a need for a s!irital conversion to a better and dee!er sense of

stewardshi! for Gods creation and res!onsibility for or commnities. /his global reality toches

or watershed, and it is im!ortant to ta%e stoc% of it and envision a transformed ftre for or

region.

III. The Rivers in Our "ision

We live in a literal watershed and are simltaneosly at a figrative watershed moment, a time of

ma%ing im!ortant decisions that will im!act, into an nforeseeable ftre, this !lace we call home

and habitat. 't is now im!ortant to envision how we can rise to meet or res!onsibility to care for

the waters in the !resent, and for the ftre.

'n the third ste! of s!irital, social and ecological transformation, we imagine together what

we wold li%e the watershed to be. /his is an idealied dream and we recognie that, as sch, it is

not immediately !racticable. Fevertheless, in order to !reserve or watershed we mst !osit a

ho!e and a dream and strive to bild toward that best !ossible world.

We mst begin with the thor of creation and as%: =ow will we be images of God and care for that

!art of creation entrsted to sB =ow can we ensre that a rich sense of GodDs !resence !revailsB

=ow can we assre that s!irital living waters, as well as clear and !re literal living waters,

contine to flow in or regionB

s we !onder these "estions, we can imagine diverse and contradictory !ossibilities for

the watershed of the ftre. With a ho!efl heart we can envision economic stability, ecological

integrity and regional sstainability. /his can be a reality if we are good stewards of Gods earth.

With sadness we can also envision ecological disaster and economic de!ression. /his too can be

a reality if we are not conscios of, and res!onsive to, or need to be good and faithfl stewards.

'n or watershed vision we choose to loo% with ho!e at what the watershed can be in the years anddecades to come.

Spiritual "ision

'n or ho!e#filled, s!irital vision, we see commnities of faith e&ercising res!onsibility for

the region. /he biblical tradition states that ecological harm is cased by hman sinflness. 'n the

=ebrew cri!tres, =osea (K:3) and Hevitics (75:15#77) declare that the !eo!les sins harm the

-13-


14/34

earth. 'n the 0hristian cri!tres, *al declares in the Hetter to the 6omans (4:77) that all creation,

sffering from the effects of hman sinflness, groans for salvation.

'n the !resent time, we envision individals and commnities honestly evalating their condct and

ob;ectively viewing its conse"ences to see how that condct im!acts the environment. /his

e&amination of conscience re"ires grace and honesty, integrity and hmility, and it is an

e&amination that each mst ma%e of his or her own actions. Fo one who has so mch as

irres!onsibly dis!osed of a gm wra!!er or an alminm can is e&em!t from sch an e&amination.

When every man, woman and child ac%nowledges individal res!onsibility for the well#

being of the watershed, then the vision of a new earth described in 6evelation 71#77 can come to

!ass. /here, +ohn relates that he saw living waters flowing beneath and nrtring a tree of life that

!rovides frit for food and leaves for medicine, for all !eo!les.

We envision a !lace where all !eo!les are treated ;stly and athentic stewardshi! is the

norm. 'n this ho!e#filled vision, every man, woman and child ac%nowledges individal res!onsibility

for the common good and the good of the commons as well as a res!onsibility toward their

neighbors, reslting in a !lace of genine !eace and ;stice.

'n that !lace, the !lace of or ho!es and dreams, !eo!le will manifest a fidelity to their calling to be

images of God and careta%ers of Gods creation. /here !eo!le will recognie the inherent vale of

creation and the dignity of all living beings as creatres of God. /here they will wor% for the well#

being of generations yet to come. /here they will be ready to ma%e sacrifices for the common

good. 'n that !lace, the !lace of or ho!es and dreams, there will be genine res!ect for life,

es!ecially hman life, and a !ro!er regard for the 0reator.

Social "ision

'n or ho!e#filled social vision for the watershed we see wor%ing !eo!le engaged in

!rodctive em!loyment at living wages, and renewed commnities integrated with their

environment. 'n that ho!e#filled vision we see wor%ers !roviding for their own needs and, in a s!irit

of sacrifice and com!assion, hel!ing to !rovide for the needs of the elderly, the yong, the

nem!loyed and nderem!loyed, and the !oor. /here regional goods are distribted ;stly to meet

regional needs, and local economies !ros!er.

0ommnity consciosness is ever aware of, and commnity conscience !rovides for, the needs of

the !oor, wea% and vlnerable, the @least of the brethren@ loved by +ess (9atthew 78:31#K5). /he

!eo!les of the region, thogh in distinct local commnities, are envisioned as a nit connected by

the web of waters and integrated as one watershed commnity.

-14-


15/34

#cological "ision

'n or idealied ecological vision we see the 0olmbia Watershed commnity inhabiting an

environment of clean land, clear water, and !re air. 'n that vision the ecology is altered only by the

earths natral colorations, seasonal variations, and !eo!les res!onsible se of the earths goods.

'n the vision, the !eo!les of the region are conscios of their stewardshi! res!onsibilities. /hey

conserve regional goods careflly. /hey wor% in factories that recycle resorces, efficiently tilie

in!ts, have little or no waste materials that need dis!osition e&ce!t to be recycled into other

goods, and release clean emissions and cleaned efflents into the environment. /hey wor% to

develo! an international and intergenerational consciosness of, and res!ect for, the needs of the

entire watershed ## its !eo!le, animals, birds, fish and !lants.

'n the vision, forests are managed wisely and trees and associated vegetation of varied

ages and diverse ty!es florish. /imber harvesting is done res!onsibly, with minimal distrbance to

the land and water and, along with lmber mills and other vale#added enter!rises, !rovides ;obs.*a!er manfactrers se !rodction !rocesses res!ectfl of water "ality and the health of the

inhabitants ## hman and animal ## of the watershed.

=ere the vision of the !ro!het 'saiah is !artially flfilled: “/he wolf lives with the lamb, the !anther

lies down with the %id, calf and lion cb feed together with a little child to lead them” ('saiah 11:5).

'n the vision any contention between indstry and environment is discssed matrely, o!enly and

calmly recogniing that the common goal is the well#being of the entire commnity of life and the

!romotion of the common good.

'n the vision, fish !o!lations are abndant, res!onding to hman ingenity and mtal

coo!eration. 0ommercial, recreational and !rivate fishers contine to en;oy o!!ortnities for

!roviding a family meal, family livelihood or a family oting. *eo!le realie the interconnectedness

of rivers and ocean, and nderstand their individal and commnity res!onsibilities to e&ercise

!ro!er stewardshi! for both. Fegative im!acts on fish !o!lations from irres!onsible commercial

and indstrial o!erations are no longer seen.

'n agricltral o!erations, we envision that farms are careflly integrated into, and

res!ectfl of, their environment. Where feasible, farmers !rodce organic cro!s that safegard

water "ality and the health of their families, consmers, livestoc% and local wildlife. Water iscareflly conserved throgh innovative irrigation techni"es. >nergy is sed s!aringly and wind

farms !rovide clean energy for the commnity and a s!!lemental income to traditional cro!s.

Earmers mar%ets enable farm families to sell their !rodce directly to consmers.

-15-


16/34

nce again we see the vision of 'saiah as owner#o!erated family and coo!erative farms

com!lement larger agribsiness o!erations and together they !rodce abndant food for the

region and the world, stimlate rral economies, and stabilie rral commnities.

/he vision for the ftre of the watershed e&tends to mine owners and managers who are

seen as o!erating with a consciosness of their res!onsibility to care for creation and res!ect local

commnity needs. /heir ac%nowledgement of the need to !romote the common good !rom!ts

them to assre that mine wor%ers have good salaries and safe wor%ing conditions. /hey assre

that mining !rocesses do not endanger waters and a"atic life or !ollte the air or land.

'ndividals ta%e stoc% of what metals they geninely need for a healthy life, artistic enhancement

and indstrial se, and create a mar%et where metals s!erflos to hman needs have no mar%et

and ths are not mined. 'n the vision, leaders in the mining indstry ac%nowledge the need to

reclaim mined lands and the neighboring waters for the benefit of local commnities.

?isions, ho!es and dreams are the ble!rints for the ftre. /he dreams ennciated above

are a real challenge to !resent and ftre regional !olicies and !ractices. /he lin%ing of vision and

!ractice mst occr in s!ecific historical !ro;ects. 0ollaborative efforts among individals and

commnities mst occr to ma%e economic ;stice and ecological !rdence a reality.

Convictions that $nderscore the %eed to Care for the #arth

'n the !resentation of or s!irital, social, and ecological visions for the 0olmbia 6iver

Watershed and, indeed, for other regions of the earth entrsted to s, we manifest certain

nderlying convictions. /hese are:

• God is the 0reator of the niverse and maintains its e&istence throgh an ongoing creative

will.

• GodDs !resence is discernible in all creation.

• God has blessed and called “very good” all that is created.

• God loves the commnity of life.

• Gods creatres share a common home.

• God entrsts the earth to hman care. *eo!le are stewards of Gods world.

• God intends the earths goods to be e"itably shared.

-16-


17/34

I". The Rivers as Our Responsibility

*eo!le throghot the 0olmbia Watershed see% good ;obs, vibrant commnities, a fair

share of the earths goods, and clean air, land and water. When they view the watershed with the

eyes of faith, they recognie their res!onsibility to God to !romote and !rotect these goods.

'n this forth ste! of the s!irital, social and ecological transformation of the watershed, we

mst act as a regional commnity to begin to actalie or ideals and vision. s in all areas of or

lives, we need to flfill or res!onsibilities to God, to creation and to each other in concrete,

definable actions.

0ommnity consciosness of !resent difficlties in the watershed can serve as the basis

for im!roving local ecologies and economies. Hocal commnity e&!erts need to wor% with

balanced, reflective advisors to bring abot greater ecological health and renewed economic

strength.

We !ro!osed above seven @0onvictions that 2nderscore the Feed to 0are for the >arth.@

What are some of the ways these convictions may be acted !onB We offer the following

@considerations@ for commnity !ro;ects to renew the watershed.

Considerations for Community Careta&ing

'. Consider the Common Good

'n the conce!t of the common good, commnity and individal nee%s ta%e !riority over

!rivate wants. /he right to own and se !rivate !ro!erty is not seen as an absolte individal right<this right mst be e&ercised res!onsibly for the benefit of the owner and the commnity as a whole.

*ro!erty mst be sed wisely as a trst from God to the civil owner. *blic !ro!erty se shold

reflect its stats as a commnity benefit to be conserved as a good both in itself and for what it can

!rovide to meet hman needs.

/he first and !rimary good to be !reserved is the good of the individal !erson. =man life

is sacred and the good of the commnity demands res!ect for that life. >nvironmental degradation

can be !articlarly harmfl to the nborn, the yong and the elderly. /he life in the womb is

!recios. /he life of the elderly !erson is !recios. /he life of the disabled !erson is !recios. /he

life of the seriosly infirm !erson is !recios. We call !on all men and women of good will to be

good stewards of the hman lives entrsted to them and to wor% diligently and res!ectflly to

!reserve this greatest of resorces.

We rge all !rivate !ro!erty owners and all managers of !blic lands to be good stewards

of Gods land, to restore and conserve that land, and to !romote hman commnities integrated

with regional ecosystems.

-17-


18/34

(. Conserve the !atershed as a Common Good

/he 0olmbia 6iver Watershed is home to !eo!le and to a variety of other creatres. /his

shared habitat needs to be nrtred and careflly conserved if all its inhabitants are to live in an

integrated and interrelated manner. esides being a regional shared s!ace, the watershed

!rovides food and other necessities, fostering the common good of all !eo!le who dwell here.

We rge !eo!le to be conscios of, and res!ectfl toward, the watershed as or common

home and as the !rovider of necessities for the good of the whole ecosystem. We encorage

!eo!le to recall their res!onsibilities to God to be good stewards of creation, so that it might meet

the needs of all its inhabitants, !resent and ftre< foster a!!reciation of Gods creativity< and be a

!lace of graced enconters with the !resence of God.

). Conserve and *rotect Species of !ildlife

/he !resence and health of wildlife is in many ways a sign of the health of or

ecosystems, of the well#being of the !eo!le and commnities de!endent on the ecosystems for

their livelihood, and of or res!ect for GodDs creatres and creation. /he !resence and health of

salmon and other s!ecies of fish in the 0olmbia#na%e system, in !articlar, is a sign of the health

of the entire region.

ome rge breaching the for dams on the lower na%e 6iver in order to im!rove the water

environment for fish. thers advocate %ee!ing the dams for energy and agricltral ses, and

sggest other means of assring the srvival of fish and fish#related indstries. /he sitation is

very com!le& and nilateral answers a!!ear to be inade"ate.

/hose involved in the debate and decisions mst consider scientific stdies, commnity needs and

ecological im!acts in ma%ing decisions which are ltimately !olitical bt which mst stem from a

s!irital and ethical base.

We rge that serios discssions and serios scientific research contine in order to

assre the !resence of a habitat sitable for the native fish of the region. /hose discssions mst

always maintain a !ro!er res!ect for GodDs creatres and a !rdent consideration of the common

good of the !eo!le of the area.

+. Respect the ,ignity and Traditions of the Region-s Indigenous *eoples

/he indigenos !eo!les have a wealth of s!iritality, cltre and traditions that call forth a

need for a!!ro!riate res!ect and !reservation. We are brothers and sisters in Gods creation and

we are gratefl to the Eirst Fations and the Fative mericans for the lessons they teach abot

res!ect for natre. We a!ologie for cltral insensitivities and lac% of ;stice, both !ast and

!resent.

-18-


19/34

/oday, we e&tend an offer of !eace and friendshi! to native !eo!les of or region. We !ledge to

wor% with them to see% e"itable resoltions of conflicts over treaty rights, to wor% with them to

enhance their engagement with other cltres, to foster their economic develo!ment and to

!artici!ate with them to !romote care for creation. We call !on the members of or !arish

commnities, government officials, those with economic interests and the general !blic to ;oin inthese efforts.

. *romote /ustice for the *oor0 in&ing #conomic /ustice and #nvironmental /ustice

/he !oor sffer more than other segments of the !o!lation from ;ob loss, low wages, !oor

wor%ing conditions and environmental degradation. /he 0hrch, in the s!irit of 0hrist, e&ercises a

!referential, bt not e&clsive, o!tion for the !oor< that is, we are called as a !eo!le to hel! them

ac"ire ;stice, res!ect, and an inherent sense of dignity, and to !artici!ate in transforming

economic and !olitical strctres to create a ;st society and a sstainable environment.

We rge the !blic and !rivate sectors to wor% with the !oor to secre em!loyment at a

living wage and in safe wor%ing conditions< decent and affordable hosing< essential health

insrance< edcational o!!ortnities< and a healthfl environment. We rge the !oor to become

actively engaged in these efforts, and to e&!lore coo!erative enter!rises in which they wold be

owners, managers, and wor%ers and conse"ently share e"itably in the distribtion of !rofits and

in the res!onsible care of Gods creation.

1. *romote Community Resolution of #conomic and #cological Issues

Hocal commnity members are often most %nowledgeable abot local ecosystemdynamics. ch citiens are best able, sometimes with necessary technical assistance, to initiate

commnity#based and commnity#oriented ecologically sstainable economic develo!ment, and to

sggest areas of individal and commnity sacrifices to conserve resorces for the common good.

'n those instances where serios damage has already been done to a local ecology we rge

individal citiens, local governments, federal government agencies, edcational instittions, local

bsinesses, commnity organiations and !arish commnities to wor% together, coo!eratively and

!atiently, in searching ot a!!ro!riate soltions.

2. *romote Social and #cological Responsibility among Reductive and Reproductive#nterprises

6edctive indstries e&tract from the earth goods that are not renewable, sch as metals

and !etrolem. 6e!rodctive indstries harvest from earths bonty renewable goods sch as

timber and agricltral !rodcts. *eo!le living and wor%ing in areas in which these enter!rises

o!erate have a right to a clean and healthfl environment.

-19-


20/34

9ining !rovides needed mineral resorces and the ;obs that !rodce them. We a!!lad

the conscientios mine owners and o!erators who have sed scientific data and economic

!ro;ections to constrct and o!erate mines that s!!ort wor%ing !eo!le and their commnities

while safegarding ecosystem health. We than% mine wor%ers who have, at times, ris%ed their lives

to benefit others: their families, their chrch and their commnities. We rge mine owners ando!erators to be conscios of their res!onsibilities to local commnities, downstream commnities,

and the environment in general when siting or o!erating mines bilt to meet hman needs.

We commend timber indstry owners and wor%ers who !rovide lmber for !eo!les needs,

and engage in long#term sstainable timber !ractices that res!ect diverse wildlife habitat needs

and the overall health of local ecosystems. We encorage timber interests, government agencies,

and local commnities ;ointly to evalate the social and environmental im!acts of !resent and

!ro!osed forestry !ractices and harvest allowances. We rge that the costs of 2.. logging

o!erations be borne by the !rofiting !rivate enter!rises (in a way similar to 0anadian !olicies) and

not e&ternalied to the ta&!ayers< and we encorage consideration of the needs of rral

commnities when environmental conservation is im!lemented.

gricltre is vital for food !rovision in the watershed and beyond. *eo!le engaged in

renewable o!erations on farms, orchards, vineyards, and ranches wor% hard to !rovide the

necessities of life for themselves and others. We a!!lad es!ecially family agricltral o!erations

that are integrated with local ecologies and interrelated with local commnities.

We rge that government and ban%ing !olicies and laws encorage family agricltre, inclding

both !rivate and coo!erative enter!rises, in the 0olmbia Watershed. We sggest that low#interest

agricltral loans be lin%ed to land, water and energy conservation !ractices and, as far as

!ossible, to organic !rodction techni"es. We rge the im!lementation of economic !olicies

designed to enable farmers to co!e with the vagaries of weather and of national and international

mar%et demands.

3. Conserve #nergy and #stablish #nvironmentally Integrated 4lternative #nergy Sources

>nergy conservation consciosness has increased in the watershed. 0onservation

!ractices by individals and bsinesses, inclding diminished !ower se, the installation of

inslation, and sbsidied weatheriation of the homes of low#income families, will certainly assistregional energy !roviders to contine to meet !ro;ected needs. dditional creative energy#saving

initiatives are necessary, and new sorces of energy need to be develo!ed to s!!lement or, if

ecologically or economically necessary, to s!!lant crrent systems. olar !ower and wind !ower

systems, for e&am!le, show !romise of being efficient and low#cost electrical !ower sorces if they

are mass#!rodced and if government sbsidies for other !ower sorces are ta%en into accont in

!arts of the watershed.

-20-


21/34

5. Respect #thnic and Racial Cultures0 Citi6ens and Communities

r region is blessed with !eo!les of diverse cltres who, as individal citiens and

cohesive commnities, enrich the social fabric of or lives while contribting their labor to !romote

societal well#being. We are !articlarly concerned abot the sitation of =is!anic wor%ers who

sometimes receive low wages, endre nhealthy wor%ing conditions, and sffer discrimination. We

need to celebrate the contribtions of all the diverse !eo!les of the 0olmbia Watershed, and to

e&!lore ;oint !ro;ects for economic ;stice and ecological conservation.

We call !on the members of chrches, in !articlar, and in a s!ecial way the members of

0atholic !arishes, to reach ot to those who are of different races, ethnic gro!s and cltres to

!romote mtal nderstanding and cohesive commnities. We e&!ect these chrches to be a

leaven in the broader society, teaching by their e&am!le a res!ect for others that will e&tend into

neighborhoods and commnities.

'7. Integrate Transportation and Recreation %eeds 8ith Sustainable #cosystemRe9uirements

6eliable trans!ortation tiliing air!orts, highways, waterways and railways is essential to

the river region. 0arefl !lanning can ensre that trans!ortation#related strctres and s!ace will

meet regional needs withot encoraging the s!rawl and chec%erboard develo!ment that can

consme energy resorces and wea%en cohesive commnities.

We rge rral and rban !lanners to determine careflly commercial, indstrial, and

individal trans!ortation needs, to meet them with im!roved !blic trans!ortation and enhanced

!rivate trans!ortation, and to integrate them careflly into local ecologies.

*eo!le need recreation to rest from their labor and re;venate their s!irit. ome !eo!le

!refer !ristine areas where they can en;oy Gods creation with limited hman intervention, while

others !refer develo!ed areas where they can res!onsibly tilie recreational means develo!ed by

hman ingenity.

*eo!le shold %ee! in mind that recreation shold not become more valable than wor%, and that it

is more than “fn.” 6ecreation has a !rimary s!irital sense< it is an o!!ortnity to enconter God.

r sols are restless, t. gstine says, ntil we find God. 'n the watershed commons we can

find God by leaning on what God has created in order to !ass on to God for refreshment and tre

strength. 'n the words of *o!e +ohn *al '', @the aesthetic vale of creation cannot be overloo%ed.

r very contact with natre has a dee! restorative !ower< contem!lation of its magnificence

im!arts !eace and serenity@ (>0, A 1K).

-21-


22/34

We rge that recreational ses of !blic lands be !ermitted in designated areas and in sch a way

that more intrsive motoried means of recreation be limited, in order to allow reflective !eo!le a

restorative contact with the !resence of God in !ristine creation.

/hese considerations com!lement each other and e&em!lify the observations of *o!e +ohn *al ''

that @the earth is ltimately a common heritage, the frits of which are for the benefit of all@ (>0, A

4)< @the !ro!er ecological balance will not be fond withot directly addressing the strctral forms

of !overty@ (>0, A 11)< and @the right to a safe environment is ever more insistently !resented today

as a right that mst be inclded in an !dated 0harter of =man 6ights@ (>0, A ).

'f these !ro;ects scceed, the regional economy will be sbstantially enhanced, the regional

ecosystem will be able to !rovide for the well#being of the commnity of living creatres, and

regional em!loyment and commnity viability will be im!roved.

Conclusion: Living Waters in the Columbia Watershed

s we stdy watershed land, air and water, we become aware of other members of the

biotic commnity and the traditions and insights of regional !eo!les of the land. We come to

recognie more flly the interrelatedness of life and the relationshi! of different lives to the

environment in which they dwell. We come to %now more than before and we recognie that we

have mch more to learn. =o!eflly, after this reflection, we are a bit more aware of the sometimes

delicate relationshi! we have with other !eo!le and of the res!onsibility we have for the other

creatres of God in the watershed.

'n the watershed of the ftre, we ho!e to see the best of the watershed of the !ast: living

waters of Gods creation flowing from meadows and montains to the ocean while !roviding for the

needs of Gods creatres along the way. We as% all !eo!le of good will to imagine what they wold

li%e the watershed to be li%e in ten, fifty or one hndred years, and to wor% conscientiosly to ma%e

that image a reality.

We ho!e and !ray that the issance of this letter will be beneficial for the 0olmbia

Watershed. We ho!e and !ray that it will contribte to a dee!er res!ect for the dignity of the hman

!erson. We ho!e that it will be a sorce of encoragement to !eo!le who care dee!ly for Godscreation. We !ray that !eo!le will be more reverentially gratefl for the goods that the watershed

!rovides and res!ect and assist those who de!end on those goods for their livelihood. We as% that

!eo!le se the watershed resorces res!onsibly to !romote the hman commnity and the well#

being of all !eo!le.

-22-


23/34

/he reign of God !roclaimed by +ess is !resent and yet to come. igns of its !resence

are evident in !eo!les efforts to restore Gods creation and live in harmony with the earth and all

creatres, and in strggles to !romote ;stice in hman commnities. /he signs are yet incom!lete

bt by the grace of God and the coo!eration of hmanity the strggle will be more energetically

engaged and ;stice and !eace can !revail. /he watershed can be transformed throgh commnitycommitments to concrete historical !ro;ects.

*eo!le live in the world of natre, not a!art from it. /hey need to alter that world at times in

order to !rovide for their needs. /he means are now available to se regional resorces more

efficiently while doing mch less harm to regional ecologies. We can live in greater harmony with

or srrondings if we strive to become more aware of or connection to, and res!onsibility for, the

creation that srronds s.

/he vision of a renewed earth in the 0olmbia 6iver Watershed !oses a challenge of

grand scale. 't !arallels the challenges faced by the original natives or the challenges faced by theearly >ro!eans. Hiving in and develo!ing the watershed demanded corage, conviction,

!erseverance and vision.

/hese same "alities are demanded now as we enter the /hird 9illennim and !resent or vision

for the 0olmbia 6iver Watershed of the ftre. 't is a vision that can be realied. 't is a challenge

as great as the 0olmbia 6iver itself. 't is a challenge worthy of the men and women who inhabit

this watershed. 't is a challenge that will test the resolve of s all.

ch a challenge can be met only with faith in God, faith in one another and mtal coo!eration.

ch a challenge can be met only if we im!lore the assistance of the God who creates theniverse and who continally sends forth the !irit for the ongoing renewal of the hman race and

for the renewal of the face of the earth.

r !rayer for the sccessfl flfillment of the vision for the 0olmbia 6iver Watershed is sim!ly:

Hord, send ot yor !irit and renew the minds and hearts of the !eo!le of the region so that,

being renewed, they may coo!erate with yor !irit and together renew the face of the earth.

Cated: /he Eeast of the a!tism of the Hord, +anary 4, 7--1

Signatures of the :ishops;

rchbisho! le& +. rnett, rchdiocese of eattle, Washington

rchbisho! +ohn G. ?lany, rchdiocese of *ortland, regon

isho! >gene +. 0ooney, Ciocese of Felson, ritish 0olmbia

-23-


24/34

isho! 9ichael *. Criscoll, Ciocese of oise, 'daho

isho! 6obert 0. 9orlino, Ciocese of =elena, 9ontana

isho! 0arlos . evilla, .+., Ciocese of a%ima, Washington

isho! William . %ylstad. Ciocese of !o%ane, Washington

isho! 6obert E. ?asa, Ciocese of a%er, regon

&iliary isho! Oenneth C. teiner, rchdiocese of *ortland, regon

&iliary isho! George H. /homas, rchdiocese of eattle, Washington

rchbisho! 6aymond G. =nthasen (6etired), rchdiocese of eattle, Washington

isho! /homas +. 0onnolly (6etired), Ciocese of a%er, regon

-24-


25/34

CO$M:I4 RI"#R *RO/#CT *4STOR4 #TT#R 4**#%,I<

4ppendi= 4; *astoral etter *ro>ect *rocess

The Columbia iver Watershed: Caring for Creation an% the Common oo% integrates 0atholic

faith and ecological res!onsibility. With the assistance of grants from the 2nited tates 0atholic

0onference >nvironmental +stice *rogram and the Fational 6eligios *artnershi! for the

>nvironment, the !ro;ect began in 1I with the formation of an international teering 0ommittee.

/he 0ommittee re!resented 0anadian and 2.. watershed dioceses and 0atholic colleges and

niversities. series of @6eadings of the igns of the /imes@ was held in Washington, regon and

ritish 0olmbia in which re!resentatives of diverse constitencies ## indstry, agricltre, fishing,

edcation and native !eo!les ## !resented their !ers!ectives on regional needs. draft of these

!ers!ectives was enlarged and enhanced by the advice of a wide range of consltants:

theologians, natral and social scientists, and chrch re!resentatives. web site was established

describing *ro;ect activities and inviting comments from interested !eo!le. n e&!loratory

docment, @/he 0olmbia 6iver Watershed: 6ealities and *ossibilities,@ was released for

discssion on 9ay 17, 1.

bse"ently, listening sessions were hosted by bisho!s from the 0olmbia 6iver watershed..

=ndreds of !eo!le from all wal%s of life have !artici!ated in the !rocess. ll of their ideas and

!ers!ectives have been considered for inclsion, and have been reflected !on dring the !astoral

letter !rocess in some way. !oetic statement abot the 0olmbia 6iver, entitled Ri!ersong, is

also inclded in the a!!endi&. /he letter is being disseminated throgh the 0olmbia 6iver

*astoral Hetter *ro;ect to !rovide an international, watershed#wide, ongoing conversation !rocess:to care for creation, to resolve regional conflicts with res!ect, com!assion and good will, and to

!romote sstainable ecological relationshi!s lin%ed with commnity economic benefits.

The *ro>ect Steering Committee

isho! William %ylstad, Ciocese of !o%ane ## !o%ane, Washington, 0hair

-25-


26/34

9r. +ose!h rns, Ciocese of a%er ## =ermiston, regon

9r. 6obert +. 0astagna, regon 0atholic 0onference ## *ortland, regon

6ev. cott 0oble, .+., Gonaga 2niversity ## !o%ane, Washington

9r. +.H. Crohard, +stice and *eace ffice, rchdiocese of eattle ## eattle, Washington

Cr. Eran% Eromher, ffice of +stice and *eace, rchdiocese of *ortland ## *ortland regon

9s. Conna =anson, ocial 9inistries ffice, Ciocese of !o%ane P !o%ane, Washington

Cr. +ohn =art, 0arroll 0ollege ## =elena, 9ontana

Cr. Horetta +ancos%i, eattle 2niversity ## eattle, Washington

Cr. teve Oolmes, 2niversity of *ortland ## *ortland, regon

6ev. *at 9onette, *astor ## Westban%, .0., 0anada

r. haron *ar%, .*., Washington tate 0atholic 0onference P eattle, Washington

6ev. 6on *atnode, *astor ## nnyside, Washington

Cr. 9ar% *etrncio, =eritage 0ollege ## /o!!enish, Washington

r. 0ecilia 6anger, .F.+.9., 9arylhrst 0ollege ## 9arylhrst, regon

9r. +ohn 6eid, *ro;ect 9anager, 6eid Q ssociates, 'nc. ## eattle, Washington

9s. vonne mith, Ciocese of a%ima ## Wa!ato, Washington

9r. Wes /owle, Ciocese of Felson ## Fa%s!, .0., 0anada

4ppendi= :; ?Readings of the Signs of theTimes? and istening Sessions

'. @Readings of the Signs of the TimesA

/he 2niversity of *ortland, *ortland, regon: Fovember, 1I

eattle 2niversity, eattle, Washington: Eebrary, 14

=anford, Washington: 9arch, 14

/o!!enish, Washington: 9ay, 14

2matilla, regon: +ly, 14

0astlegar, ritish 0olmbia: e!tember, 14

!o%ane, Washington: Eebrary, 1

=ermiston, regon: 9arch, 1

-26-


27/34

(. istening SessionsB

t. 9aryDs *arish, !o%ane, Washington: gst, 1

t. *al *arish, a%ima, Washington: gst, 1

0olmbia 6iver 9aritime 9sem, storia, regon: ctober, 1

t. *is R and =oly /rinity 0hrches, 0edar 9ill Q eaverton, regon: ctober 1

0arroll 0ollege, =elena, 9ontana: ctober, 1

=oly Eamily 0hrch, 0lar%ston, Washington: ctober, 1

alish#Oootenai 0ollege, *ablo, 9ontana: Fovember, 1

S 9any other !arishes and commnity organiations s!onsored sessions on their own

between +ne and Cecember, 1.

A!!endi" C: esource Consultants

Horen ahls, =elena, 9ontana

Ciane ergant, 0, 0hicago, 'llinois

6ev. 0arla er%edal, 9ercer 'sland, Washington .

6ss t%s, *ortland, regon

+dy yron, .*, eattle, Washington

*at 0lancey, >nnis, 9ontana

0arol Cem!sey, *, *ortland, regon

6ev. +ohn CHong, 6evelsto%e, .0.

6ev. =gh Eeiss, , +erome, 'daho

Walt Graer, Washington, C.0.

6ichard =armon, *ortland, regon

0hief +ohnny +ac%son, 2nderwood, Washington

6ev. 0harles Hienert, *ortland, regon

+im 9ale, *ortland, regon

-27-


28/34

Cebrah 9arriott, *ortland, regon

Cavid 9c0los%ey, eattle, Washington

allie 9cEage, Fashville, /ennessee

Gary 9cFeil, eattle, Washington

abino ardineta, 0ornelis, regon

Wilbr loc%ish, +r., /he Calles, regon

9ary +o /lly, *ortland, regon

!!endi& C: elected ibliogra!hy

lberta 0atholic isho!s, 0anada. 0elebrate Hife: Care for Creation' 14.

!!alachian 0atholic isho!s, 2nited tates. This Lan% -s .ome To *e: A ,tatement on"owerlessness in Appalachia' 1I8.

0anadian 0atholic isho!s. The En!ironmental Crisis: The "lace of the .uman /eing in the

Cosmos, 18.

The ,truggle Against "o!erty: A ,ign of .ope for +ur orl%' 15.

Crew 0hristiansen, .+., and Walter Graer, eds. 0An% o% ,aw That -t as oo%1: Catholic

Theology an% the En!ironment' 2nited tates 0atholic 0onference, 15.

Gatemalan 0atholic isho!s. The Cry for Lan%' 144.

+ohn =art. The ,pirit of the Earth: A Theology of the Lan%$ *alist *ress, 14K.

>thics and /echnology: 'nnovation and /ransformation in 0ommnity 0onte&ts, "ilgrim

"ress' 334$

9idwestern 0atholic isho!s, 2nited tates. ,trangers an% uests: Towar% Community in the

.eartlan%' 14-.

*o!e +ohn *al ''. The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility' 1-.

As the Thir% *illennium 5raws 6ear (Tertio *illennio A%!eniente), 1K.

2nited tates 0atholic isho!s. Economic Justice for All: Catholic ,ocial Teaching an% the 7$,$

Economy' 145$

Renewing the Earth: An -n!itation to Reflection an% Action on En!ironment in Light of

Catholic ,ocial Teaching' 11$

-28-


29/34

4ppendi= #; The *ro>ect !eb Site; www.colmbiariver.org

4ppendi= ; 4 *oetic Reflection

RIVER SONG

'n the beginning was the Word, who broght forth the cosmos,

creating the stars and the worlds and the waters,

a niverse wondros, dynamic and blessed.

/he !irit breathed s!irit enlivening the cosmos:

over eons in waters the first life was born,

then evolved yet new creatres, sent to air, onto land:

the finned ones and winged ones, the rooted ones and legged ones

all that had life emerged on the earth

to give life in trn, !assing throgh generations,

diverse forms of beaty s!read over the world.

God said all creation was now “very good.”

/hen the Word who created the worlds and the waters

and the wondros lives in them, came into this world<

was immersed in womb waters, was born among !eo!le<

in the +ordan was ba!tied, living waters !ored on him<

came to teach s as Word by his words and his life,

came to tell s that we among creatres were called

Pas images, dreamers, aware of creationP

to drin% living waters of earth and the !irit

to care for each other, all life and or home.

/he Word s!o%e of water as living and flowing<

-29-


30/34

the grace of the !irit called all to be one:

a sharing of goods and a life of com!assion

a way to see all as or neighbors to love.

'n regions afar from the WordDs !lace of birth,

some ten thosand years before the WordDs birth,

the Word in creation had forged different lands:

a sea far inland bro%e throgh its roc% dam,

Ha%e 9issola went westward see%ing ot the *acific

Pshattered roc% that seemed solid, !lowed canyons in >arth,

and gave the Willamette the richest of soilP

left beneath and behind it a world now transformed

Pa world of new la%es and new rivers, !re waters

a watershed reaching from meadows, throgh montains,

a lifeblood of life#giving waters still bearing

in memory their trblent flood time of birth<

among them a great river flowed, filled with salmon

a great singing river throgh 0elilo s!lashed down

called first by first !eo!les, 0he Wana, Great 6iver,

and then called 0olmbia, the WestDs mighty river.

/he waters, still living, rshed over the land,

revealing in beaty and lifeDs diverse forms

the vision, the !ower, the !resence of !irit.

'n their de!ths, on their srface and s!lashing in waves

salmon streamed, flic%ering flashes of silver in snlight

lea!ing ! falls, and gliding in crrents

P0eliloDs great height was a trial for all,

-30-


31/34

their challenge and trim!h the great falls wold be

their tails s!lashed the waters, their strength gave them wings

as they flew ! the falls to con"er its heights

headed home to s!awn offs!ring to !ass on their life

then feed other creatres of air, land and water.

/he rivers sang ot then, a clear, mighty song,

the melodies !layed by their ra!ids were strong

Pat Wa!ta, 0elilo, hoshone and Oettle,

and throgh the Grand 0olee and =ells 0anyon roc%sP

a sym!hony soaring throgh meadows and montains

P the na%e !layed it sothward, the lac%foot sang east,

the Oootenay north, the Willamette far westP

a chors soon ;oined by the breath of the wind,

by the cries of the birds soaring ! in the air:

the eagle and owl, merganser and mag!ie,

os!rey and raven, and other winged !eo!le<

by the s!lashing of fish swimming dee! in the waters:

salmon went westward with the song of the yong,

while others swam eastward with songs of new life,

and steelhead and other finned !eo!le sang too<

by the branches of trees swaying in the air crrents:

the as!en, the larch, the Cog fir and cedar,

the rooted ones all whis!ered words for the song<

by the voices of all those who wal% on the land,

and drin% of the waters, and feed in the forests:

the mle deer, the el%, the blac% bear and lyn&,

and others who lea!, crawl, or slither or rn.

-31-


32/34

God heard there in echo the words of creation

that throgh all time call all the world into being<

God said that the song of the rivers was good.

/he waters, still living, flowed on throgh the eons,

the Great 6iver felt when the !eo!les arrived,

and bilt there their homes, 6iver *eo!le by name<

they lived tned to “9other >arthDs” rhythms and nrtre,

the way of the !irit they tried to live well

and many were fishers and some were called Creamers.

0elilo their seasonal home came to be

when the salmon lea!ed s%yward, and srged throgh the waters

coming bac% from their ;orney in the stormy *acific

to s!awn in the old gravel beds of their birth,

giving life among watershed waters of old

which flowed soth from marshes in 0anadaDs 6oc%ies

to nite with the west ocean beachDs strong tides.

/he waters, still living, flowed on throgh the centries,

the shores of 0he Wana new !eo!les made home,

0olmbia became the great riverDs new name<

they sed natreDs goods in new ways and they !ros!ered<

bt the old !eo!les then were dis!laced from their lands:

0he WanaDs first !eo!les lost lives, fish and home.

Generations !assed on and the >arth was transformed

from meadows to farms, food and fiber for some,

-32-


33/34

from forests to lmber and framing for hoses,

from hillsides to alminm !lants for new air!lanes,

from montains to atom#based !lants and new wea!ons<

some !eo!les ct ties with the rivers, their !lace

Pwith the !irit, the earth and each other as wellP

and the land in !ain langished, groaning for its redem!tion<

the song of the river was mornfl, near mte

the waters flowed slowly, less living for all:

the voices of wind, birds and salmon, all life

were fewer and softer than ever before<

the !eo!les of s%y, land and waters were weary,

longing for visions and a new way of life.

wind ri!!led rivers, the !irit was whis!ering

its breath toched the !eo!les of s%y, land and waters:

they trned from illsions, from dancing with death

to follow its !romise of new life to come.

/he rivers flowed on, "ic%ened now by the visions

while sensing new !ro;ects being formed on the land<

restored, renewed !laces, new habitats, homesteads

soon came into being, with !eo!les now conscios

of the !resence of !irit, of the rhythms of earth,

of how they related, each one to each other.

/he waters and watershed then were transformed:

-33-


34/34

the rivers ran clear, strong, and living again<

the !eo!les of the s%y, the land and the waters

lived each in relation to all and to earth:

farmers and fritfl fields, fishers and fish,

forests and foresters cared for each other,

commnities cared for the commons, their home,

the common good all soght to wor% for as one<

new energy sorces soon came into being,

that wor%ed with earthDs energy, snlight and wind<

indstrial !lants sed old waste as new !rodcts,

the air, land and waters were cleaned and renewed<

economics and ecology throgh ethics were bond,

eco#;stice, eco#consciosness wal%ed hand in hand,

and commnities called themselves neighbors again.

0he Wana and her sisters sang with ;oy, living waters,

and !eo!les of the s%y, land and swift flowing rivers,

!lants, birds, fish, animals, life in commnion

all lifted their voices and ;oined in the song.

God saw living waters and !eo!les who cared for them,

sharing the life of the cosmos and commons

#the tree of life gave them its frits for their food,

its leaves were their medicine, healing for all#

the riversong soared, then, on wind, over waves.

God blessed them, saying to them, "You are all very good."

Date post:	05-Jul-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	rmf22
View:	219 times
Download:	0 times

2-1-01 International Pastoral Letter by the Catholic Bishops of the Columbia River Watershed

Documents