Cardinal Müller’s Claim On 'Mother Earth'

Correcting Cardinal Müller’s Claim: The Biblical Roots of “Mother Earth”

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, in a 2019 statement (see:Riforme: testo maggioranza, da dicembre percorso per interventi costituzionali | Il Foglio)  described the term “Mother Earth” as a “pagan expression,” asserting that “the earth comes from God and our mother in faith is the Church.” 

He further argued that justification comes through faith, hope, and love, not environmental activism (Il Foglio, October 7, 2019). While Cardinal Müller’s emphasis on the Church’s role in faith is theologically sound, his dismissal of “Mother Earth” as inherently pagan overlooks a significant biblical precedent that aligns the term with Christian tradition. Specifically, the Book of Sirach in the Old Testament explicitly refers to the earth as a mother, challenging the notion that the term is exclusively pagan.

Cardinal Mueller's words: 

"In one of its paragraphs it speaks of ‘Mother Earth’: but this is a pagan expression. The earth comes from God and our mother in faith is the Church. We are justified through faith, hope, and love, not through environmental activism." (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

"In uno dei suoi paragrafi si parla di ‘Madre Terra’: ma questa è un’espressione pagana. La terra viene da Dio e nostra madre nella fede è la Chiesa. Siamo giustificati attraverso la fede, la speranza e l’amore, non attraverso l’attivismo ambientale."

https://www.ilfoglio.it/adn-kronos/2019/10/07/news/riforme-testo-maggioranza-da-dicembre-percorso-per-interventi-costituzionali-279054/

 

The Biblical Foundation: Sirach 40:1

The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is part of the deuterocanonical scriptures accepted by Catholic and Orthodox traditions. In Sirach 40:1, we read: “Every person has been given a great deal of work to do. A heavy burden lies on all of us from the day of our birth until the day we go back to the earth, the mother of us all.” This verse clearly personifies the earth as “the mother of us all,” a nurturing source to which humanity returns at death. This imagery reflects a deep connection between humanity and the earth, rooted in God’s creation, and is far from a pagan concept.

Sirach 40:1 

Every person has been given a great deal of work to do. A heavy burden lies on all of us from the day of our birth until the day we go back to the earth, the mother of us all.

The metaphor of the earth as a mother aligns with the biblical understanding of creation as God’s handiwork, imbued with purpose and care. Genesis 1:11-12 describes the earth bringing forth vegetation, and Genesis 3:19 reminds us that we return to the dust from which we were formed. These passages underscore the earth’s role as a life-giving and sustaining force under God’s sovereignty, not as a deity in itself, but as a creation that reflects divine providence.

Contextualizing Cardinal Müller’s Concern

Cardinal Müller’s critique likely stems from a concern that the term “Mother Earth” could be misused in contexts that blur Christian theology with pantheistic or New Age ideologies. In some modern environmental movements, the term is occasionally used in ways that anthropomorphize the earth as a divine entity, which could conflict with Christian monotheism. However, the use of “Mother Earth” in Christian contexts, such as discussions of stewardship over creation, does not inherently imply paganism. Instead, it can evoke the biblical imagery found in Sirach and other scriptures, emphasizing humanity’s dependence on the earth as part of God’s created order.

The Catholic Church has long affirmed the importance of caring for creation. Pope Francis, in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, calls for an “integral ecology” that recognizes the earth as “our common home.” While the encyclical does not use the exact phrase “Mother Earth,” it describes the earth in familial terms, as a “sister” and a “mother who embraces us” (LS, §1-2). This language echoes Sirach 40:1 and demonstrates that such metaphors are compatible with Christian theology when understood as expressions of God’s creative love.

Environmental Activism and Christian Faith

Cardinal Müller’s statement also contrasts environmental activism with the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. While it is true that salvation comes through these virtues and not through activism alone, environmental stewardship is not divorced from Christian duty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that humans are called to be stewards of creation (CCC §2415), and caring for the earth is an act of love for God’s creation and for future generations. Environmental activism, when grounded in faith, can be an expression of these virtues rather than a replacement for them.

Conclusion

Cardinal Müller’s characterization of “Mother Earth” as a pagan expression does not fully account for its biblical precedent in Sirach 40:1, where the earth is described as “the mother of us all.” This imagery is consistent with Christian theology, which views the earth as God’s creation, entrusted to humanity’s care. While caution against pantheistic interpretations is valid, dismissing the term outright ignores its scriptural roots and its potential to inspire faithful stewardship. As Catholics, we can embrace the call to care for our common home, seeing the earth not as a deity, but as a motherly gift from God, sustained by His love and entrusted to our responsibility.

By recognizing the biblical foundation of “Mother Earth,” we can bridge the gap between faith and environmental care, affirming that love for God’s creation is a natural extension of faith, hope, and love.