b'C L A S S R O O M A P P L I C A T I O NBring the activity to a close with your observations on the students work STEP 5 STEP 6 and the connections with Laudato si. Some possible closing points:Science has helped the Church see even more deeply the spiritual connections among all created things. Scientists and theologians like Teilhard and Berry do not see science and faith at odds with each other. Humankind is deeply reliant on a healthy planet. If the earth becomes polluted, diseased, and out of balance, human beings will also suffer the effects.In light of this reality, Laudato si emphasizes the importance of humanitys role in caring for the earth. Rather than seeing the earth and its goods as things to be exploited, we must treat them with reverence and respect.Treating the earth with reverence and respect is one of the most important moral issues of our time. In the last two or three hundred years human beings have caused devastating damage to the earth through pollution, unsustainable mining and agricultural practices, overfishing, and so on. Even if we change our ways immediately, the consequences of these actions will take centuries to heal and some of these consequences will never be repaired (such as the loss of countless plant and animal species). Because such radical change is needed, in Laudato si Pope Francis calls us to a renewed moral commitment to work together to heal and protect all creation.End by praying St. Franciss Canticle of Sister Sun and Brother Moon. Like many great mystics in the Church, Saint Francis had a keen sense of our intimate connection with the created universe, which he gave voice to in this canticle. The class could pray this together, or take turns reading stanzas on the following page.26 AspireVolume 1//Winter 2020 Subscribe today! smp.org/aspire'