A Community between People and Nature: A Catholic Theological Critique
Abstract
This article examines the theological validity of the claim that people and nature form a community (communio). Drawing on Catholic moral theology, it argues that communio is a concept applicable exclusively to interpersonal relationships (communio personarum), as it requires rationality, freedom, and mutual responsibility—qualities absent in nature. The paper demonstrates that misapplying concepts across disciplines leads to theological inaccuracies. Instead, it proposes that a genuine communio personarum fosters ecological responsibility and social harmony, providing a robust foundation for ethical environmental engagement.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Religion
Ecology
and Ethics
Catholicism and Religious Studies
Evelyn Waugh and Hans Urs von Balthasar Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Theology and Science
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 524–535
- Publication date
- 5 March 2026
- Language
- EN