Announcing the publication of a major new book by IOEC Director Marybeth Lorbiecki.

Following St. Francis: John Paul II’s Call for Ecological Action (Rizzoli, 2014) is the first book to explore the visionary sermons, encyclicals, and other writings by Pope John Paul II in his heartfelt and scripturally-grounded defense of the Earth. Long before others recognized the role of faith in environmental protection, John Paul II laid the foundation for groups like the IOEC to bring together religious communities in service of a healthier, more just and more beautiful planet.

Director Lorbiecki devoted over a decade to collecting the pope’s most significant environmental writings, and her book gracefully interweaves passages from his works with passages from Scripture and excerpts from Patriarch Bartholomew, Gandhi, Aldo Leopold, and other leading thinkers and ethicists. She draws careful connections between John Paul II’s views and those of St. Francis of Assisi—patron saint of ecology—and of Pope Francis. While based in strong scholarship, Lorbiecki writes engages readers from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds, whether familiar with Catholic teachings or not, through vivid stories and accessible language.

Especially relevant to IOEC supporters will be sections on how the late pope viewed ocean-related issues such as climate change, biodiversity declines, wasteful fishing practices, clean water scarcity, and the connections between poverty and ecological responsibility. While replete with articulate warnings about the consequences of human action, the book provides uplifting words to urge and to guide fundamental change.

This powerful book will reawaken readers to a message Pope John Paull II often reminded us, “As I have said before: Protect the world, the beautiful endangered world.”

“Lorbiecki provides a wonderful connection Franciscan spirituality and Pope John Paul II’s call to care for all of God’s creation. She not only explains why we are called to action but offers clear examples of how to accomplish it.” ~ Patrick Carolan, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network.

Welcome to two new members of our compassionate community. The Ecological Research and Development Group (ERDG) and the Dharmadhatu Center have both generously agreed to become Endorsing Partners of the IOEC.

The Ecological Research and Development Group is the world’s leading conservation organization focused on a true ocean survive: horseshoe crabs. Founded in 1995, ERDG supports research, education, legislation, and direct conservation efforts such as creation of horseshoe crab nesting sanctuaries. One creative program is the “Just Flip ‘Em Campaign,” which urges beach-goers to recognize the value of each individual stranded crab and take the time to turn it over, allowing it to return to the water. This elegantly simple program saves the lives of breeding age horseshoe crabs up and down the Atlantic Coast.

The Dharmadhatu Center in Dover, Delaware is affiliated with the Xuafa Institute and honors and celebrates the teachings of H. H. Dorje Chang Budda III. The Center actively practices Buddhist values at annual Dharma Assemblies on the mid-Atlantic coast, when Buddhists from around the region gather for a ceremony blessing horseshoe crabs and to act on their belief in the animals’ worth as living beings by rescuing stranded crabs and returning them to the sea.