In recent weeks, a climate and energy bill, introduced by Reps. Henry Waxman and Edward Markey, has been bandied about in the House of Representatives. The details of The American Clean Energy and Security Act are being examined, prodded and hammered out, with a vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee expected the week of May 18 and a vote on the House floor by Memorial Day. If it passes, it will be held up as an encouraging symbol in the formulation of an international climate treaty at the Copenhagen climate talks in December 2009.

The last few weeks have seen a buzz of activity in Washington over this bill. Folks from the faith, environmental, business and energy sectors have been lobbying their congressional representatives. There has been a myriad of responses from the legislators, including support for energy and carbon reduction, concern about cap and trade, as well as a bi-partisan desire for job creation and decreased dependence on foreign energy.

This bill, while not perfect, does contain provisions that every person of faith and good will can support: sustainable jobs creation; development of clean energies aimed at greenhouse gas reductions; incentives to decrease deforestation; and support for developing countries in adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Aside from the details of this bill, many folks from various sectors recognize it as symbolic of a truth we can no longer deny: Humanity has had and is having an impact on the natural world. The old ways of living, which include manner and use of energy and the way we relate to the Earth, is changing, making way for a new paradigm of sustainability and respect for all Earth's inhabitants.

This paradigmatic shift that we are called to, and indeed experiencing, is famously described by Martin Buber in his ground-breaking book, "I and Thou." He describes the shift in relationship, from seeing "the other," as object to subject.

---Objectifying the other is cold and lacking in compassion; it rationalizes a relationship based on usury and exploitation, since the well-being of the other is not important.

---Alternately, subjectifying the other treasures and respects the other's implicit well-being and goodness, calling for a transformation of both parties.

Treating creation, the natural world, as an object rationalizes exploitation of natural resources for the good of humanity only. Conversely, viewing creation through the lens of subject to subject, we recognize creation as living, as imbued with God's image, with all respect due.

On a deeper level, subjectifying creation transforms our own understanding that humanity and nature are not separate entities, but intimately inter-connected manifestations of God's natural world. God attempted to make this relationship clear in the book of Genesis. God did not give the earth itself to humanity; God gave the loving care of the earth to humanity.

We are called at this time to see with new eyes. To see, not through the old eyes of mere human survival, but through the eyes of God, who calls us to the fullness of life. We are called to see the Big Picture, the inter-connectedness of all living beings on the Earth. The climate issue is not one among many to "be solved"; it is the 21st-century umbrella issue for so many others --- drought, famine, energy dependence, national security, civil conflicts and war, global relations and severe weather events.

This call to see with new eyes is why the climate issue is not just about polar bears. If it were, humanity could stay within the old paradigm of control and domination. However, in this era of new wine into new wineskins, it is humanity itself that is being called to undergo a radical transformation of understanding --- a conversion that is not temporary, but one that is permanent.

Luckily, we have an abundance of resources to assist and guide us through this conversion.

Seeing through the eyes of faith is not new to Christians. We are continually called to conversion by the words of Jesus, the Scriptures and Catholic Social Teaching. We are continually called to be co-creators in a world in which the "kingdom of God is at hand."

However, in today's world, we come face-to-face with the challenge of our faith principles in a way perhaps as never before. The recognition of humanity's impact on our natural world demands that we reflect on our way of being in the world --- our energy use, our consumer choices and our relationships with others.

The beauty of our faith doctrines, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) in particular, is that they provide us with the necessary understanding and direction forward. In addressing the 21st century umbrella issue of climate, we employ the principles of CST and recognize that the climate issue is the dignity of each person, is economic justice, is the option for the poor and is work for the common good.

Catholic Social Teaching reflects the true genius of the "Good News." The good news of Jesus Christ is not merely about loving our neighbor in an ephemeral way, a path to feeling good about oneself, but it combines the best of humanity with what is best for humanity. The genius of the good news is that it includes the needs of humanity --- including a strong social structure and economy --- with the actions of a loving God. In this good news, there is no distinction of "environment vs. economy" --- only the understanding that the environment is the economy; the economy is the common good; the common good is the faithful, loving care of the Earth and her inhabitants.

In this new era and paradigm, we have an amazing opportunity to truly act for the life of the world. It is imperative to begin greenhouse gas reduction strategies to protect all of creation as soon as possible. Seeing through the eyes of God and the living Gospel, shows us not only our responsibility to do this, but that God, at all times, gives us energy, strength, creativity and love --- all practical resources to meet this challenge.

Allis Druffel is the chair of the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Committee, and is Southern California outreach director of California Interfaith Power and Light. She recently took part in a national Interfaith Power and Light lobbying campaign in Washington, D.C., in support of the Waxman-Markey bill.