Notre Dame theologian helps guide Indiana bishops’ call to care for creation

The original article, written by Erin Blasko, was published by Notre Dame News.

Notre Dame theologian Rev. Terrence P. Ehrman, C.S.C., played a key role in a new pastoral letter from Indiana’s Catholic bishops that calls for a renewed, faith-informed approach to caring for the environment.

Titled “Integral Ecology: A Sacramental Vision,” the letter invites Catholics and all people of goodwill to see creation as a gift from God and to embrace a deeper sense of responsibility for the natural world—an approach that reflects Notre Dame’s commitment to bringing faith into dialogue with the world’s most pressing challenges.

Faith, science, and care for our common home

Developed in close collaboration with Father Ehrman, the letter reflects his interdisciplinary work at Notre Dame, where theology, biology, and ecology come together in a way that mirrors the University’s distinctive integration of faith and reason.

The document echoes Pope Francis’ call for “ecological conversion,” encouraging individuals and communities to recognize the environment not simply as a resource, but as part of a sacred and interconnected creation.

Addressing urgent environmental challenges

The bishops highlight pressing issues across Indiana, including water pollution, biodiversity loss, and the long-term effects of energy use and agriculture—calling for solutions that uphold both human dignity and the integrity of creation.

It also invites a spirit of attentiveness and responsibility toward God, neighbor, and the natural world, underscoring a holistic vision that is central to Catholic teaching and deeply rooted in Notre Dame’s mission.

A vision rooted in Notre Dame scholarship

The pastoral letter reflects years of collaboration, including ideas shaped in Father Ehrman’s Notre Dame course on theology and ecology, where students are formed to think critically and act ethically in response to global challenges.

This work also aligns with the University’s broader commitment to sustainability and stewardship, demonstrating how Notre Dame’s Catholic character continues to inform research, teaching, and engagement with the wider world.

Giving impact

Support from the Notre Dame community makes scholarship like Father Ehrman’s possible—advancing work that brings together faith and science in service to the common good. Such generosity helps sustain a University where the Catholic intellectual tradition shapes inquiry, inspires action, and prepares students to care for creation and one another.