Catholic ecological hermeneutics

Professor Jaime Tatay, from the Faculty of Theology, has published an article entitled "The Evolution of Catholic Ecological Hermeneutics" in the international journal Theological Studies.

Professor Tatay, in his article, which is available to subscribers, first takes a look the relationship between the Bible and ecology, and then asks whether the Bible can be read from an ecological perspective. It then delves into the genesis and evolution of Catholic ecological hermeneutics (1979-2012) in order to shed light on its hermeneutical proposal in relation to the Catholic Social Teaching.

The following is a summary of the article:

This article traces the development of Catholic ecological hermeneutics over fifty years, leading to Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015). Analyzing key church statements, it reveals the expanding biblical sources used and efforts to reinterpret them. The interdisciplinary nature of sustainability and Christian churches’ involvement in academic, ecumenical, and interreligious fora have driven this “hermeneutical effort.” Although not critically examining difficult passages or revising Scripture systematically, Catholic ecotheological reflection has integrated multiple sources into a fruitful dialogue with the Bible, contributing significantly to sustainability. This study underscores the evolution of Christian social thought, emphasizing its capacity to update biblical insights and adapt Catholic Social Teaching for public theology.

Tatay, J. (2024). The Evolution of Catholic Ecological Hermeneutics. Theological Studies, 85(3), 379-399. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405639241263277

The article is available to subscribers by clicking here.

Professor Jaime Tatay Nieto holds a PhD in Theology, is a member of the Department of Moral Theology and Praxis of Christian Life and an expert, co-director of the Hana and Francisco José Ayala Chair of Science, Technology and Religion, and a recognised expert in the Social Doctrine of the Church and environmental ethics.

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