INDIANAPOLIS – The five Catholic bishops of the State of Indiana, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson (Indianapolis), Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades (Fort Wayne-South Bend), Bishop Robert J. McClory (Gary), Bishop Timothy L. Doherty (Lafayette) and Bishop Joseph M. Siegel (Evansville) announced the release of a new pastoral letter, “Integral Ecology: A Sacramental Vision.”
Written during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, the letter is addressed to “brothers and sisters in Christ and all people of goodwill in the state of Indiana.” In it, the bishops share their joy in the Good News of Jesus Christ and offer encouragement rooted in “the hope that does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).
The pastoral letter reflects on the social and ecological challenges of our time through a Christian lens of hope. It also builds upon the bishops’ previous teaching on care for creation, including their 2000 pastoral letter, Care for the Earth, issued during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
"Rooted in theology, this pastoral letter is intended to inform the faithful and inspire a deeper appreciation for our environment, especially as experienced in our state of Indiana,” remarked Most Rev. Robert J. McClory, Bishop of Gary. “The Indiana bishops encourage the faithful to reflect more deeply on our state's tremendous resources of air, land and water and to prioritize their protection for future generations."
“Integral Ecology: A Sacramental Vision” invites Catholics and all people of good will to consider a deeper, faith-filled understanding of humanity’s relationship with creation – one that recognizes the world as a gift from God and calls for responsible stewardship grounded in the sacramental life of the Church.
Most Rev. Charles Thompson, Archbishop of Indianapolis, describes the concept of integral ecology as helping “us see more clearly how human life and the natural world are deeply interconnected. Here in Indiana, we delight in the beauty of creation – from our Great Lake and winding rivers to forests, prairies, wetlands, and farmland. As people at home in this land and pilgrims journeying toward our true home in heaven, we are called to receive creation as a gift and to care for it with gratitude and hope.”
Matt Kresich, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary, is a member of the Indiana Catholics for Creation group, a small working group with volunteers from across the state. He believes the teaching by the Indiana bishops is particularly relevant in light of the Resurrection which is a reminder that salvation even extends to people’s created bodies.
“In their look at integral ecology, we see how what we do to the environment in return affects us and our communities,” Kresich said. “A reflection on this is much needed as farmland continues to shrink, data centers pop up all over the state, and water quality continues to be an issue.”
Kresich added that the bishops root their theology firmly through a sacramental focus, pointing out the very elements which allow for Jesus to be made present on the altar are products of the earth.
“We cannot separate the created world from spiritual reality,” he said. “The way we treat one affects the other. This is what our bishops are calling us to reflect and act upon.
As the Diocese of Gary’s lay representative to the Indiana Catholic Conference’s Board of Directors, Beth Casbon is also quite familiar with this pastoral letter which was in the works for some time. She explained, as Catholics, ecological questions should be approached with faith and through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
“We see care for the Earth as part of our vocation,” Casbon said. “In this way, we transform environmental responsibility from a purely practical concern into a moral and spiritual commitment to honor God through care for His creation and to express love for neighbors, especially those who will inherit what we leave behind.”
She also stated that in a world where conversations about the environment are often shaped by conflicting views, political division and competing priorities, she is grateful to the five Indiana bishops for their reminder that caring for creation is not separate from faith, but a natural expression of it.
The document “Integral Ecology: A Sacramental Vision” was made available on the Indiana Catholic Conference website on April 8, 2026, along with discussion questions to support reflection and dialogue at the parish, school and community levels. These resources can be found at indianacc.org/ecology.
Additional details are available through the Indiana Catholic Conference. For more information, contact Alexander Mingus, Executive Director, Indiana Catholic Conference, at 317-236-1458 or email amingus@indianacc.org.
