Challenging the Levels: The Catholic Church as a Multi-Level Actor in the Transition to a Climate-Compatible Society

Jochen Ostheimer and Julia Blanc
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Jochen Ostheimer: Institute for Ethics and Sociology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Julia Blanc: Faculty of Theology, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Climate compatibility is a cornerstone in the ecological transformation of modern society. In order to achieve sustainable development in all areas of society, numerous social actors must participate. This article examines the potential for the Catholic Church in German-speaking countries to contribute to such change. To this end, in contrast to most current studies, the Church is conceptualized as a multi-level actor instead of focusing only on the top of the hierarchy. Case studies are used to explore how various Church actors in different fields of social action evoke ecological awareness among members and non-members alike or participate in changing social structures.

Keywords: Catholic Church; climate change; Laudato si’; multi-level approach; societal change; spirituality; subsidiarity; sustainability; transformation theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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