Integrating Catholic Teachings into Education: Promoting Sustainable Practices Through Laudato Si’ in Lebanon
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI commend the authors for their timely and original piece of research. I outline both recommendations for minor and major revisions to ensure this article reflects recent scholarship.
Minor:
Line 24 and Line 417 are too colloquial. Replace with phrases such as "Currently" and "While the merit of socialist techniques remain an area of debate"
Line 212 is also too colloquial. "The Christian tradition presents Creation as fundamentally good" might be more appropriate.
Line 543- replace "fairly good" with "positive"
Line 291- Give Laudato Si' its full title, incorporating "On Care for the Common Home"
Line 54: Laudato Si' would be better suited as italicized in the text.
Line 42: I am unsure as to why ecology is capitalized at the start of the sentence.
Line 813 onwards: The conclusion is too long. This is meant to present a summary of the argument presented. This needs to be significantly shortened, presenting the information in a more concise manner.
Major:
In this article, there is insufficient attention paid to contemporary literature on this area. Many of the sources are years if not decades old. The authors need to bring their argument into greater dialogue with contemporary voices on the relationship between theology and ecology. Authors such as Teresa Messias, Dermot Lane, Sean McDonagh, Vincent Miller, Eugene Schlesinger and Judith Gruber among others need to be engaged with as a matter of priority. Below are examples where some of the points argued are undermined by a lack of contemporary scholarship or scholarship more generally.
Line 200-202.
Line 245:
Like 266-270.
Line 278-288.
Line 301-366.
Line 382-387.
Line 408:
Line 389-474.
Line 486-510.
Author Response
Thank you for your valuable comments and insights. We sincerely appreciate your time and effort in reviewing our work, and we will carefully consider your suggestions to enhance the quality of our research.
I commend the authors for their timely and original piece of research. I outline both recommendations for minor and major revisions to ensure this article reflects recent scholarship.
Minor:
Line 24 and Line 417 are too colloquial. Replace with phrases such as "Currently" and "While the merit of socialist techniques remain an area of debate"
Line 212 is also too colloquial. "The Christian tradition presents Creation as fundamentally good" might be more appropriate.
Line 543- replace "fairly good" with "positive"
Line 291- Give Laudato Si' its full title, incorporating "On Care for the Common Home"
Thank you for these suggestions, the replacement is done.
Line 54: Laudato Si' would be better suited as italicized in the text.
I have italicized Laudato Si in the text.
Line 42: I am unsure as to why ecology is capitalized at the start of the sentence.
Line 813 onwards: The conclusion is too long. This is meant to present a summary of the argument presented. This needs to be significantly shortened, presenting the information in a more concise manner.
Thank you for this suggestion, I have reduced the conclusion to summarize in a consize manner the research main findings.
Major:
In this article, there is insufficient attention paid to contemporary literature on this area. Many of the sources are years if not decades old. The authors need to bring their argument into greater dialogue with contemporary voices on the relationship between theology and ecology. Authors such as Teresa Messias, Dermot Lane, Sean McDonagh, Vincent Miller, Eugene Schlesinger and Judith Gruber among others need to be engaged with as a matter of priority. Below are examples where some of the points argued are undermined by a lack of contemporary scholarship or scholarship more generally.
Line 200-202.
Line 245:
Like 266-270.
Line 278-288.
Line 301-366.
Line 382-387.
Line 408:
Line 389-474.
Line 486-510.
The following references have been added:
Messias, T. From Ecotheology to Ecospirituality in Laudato sí—Ecological Spirituality beyond Christian Religion. Religions 2024, 15, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15010068
Lane, Dermot A. Nature Praising God: Towards a Theology of the Natural World. Liturgical Press, 2023.
McDonagh, Sean. The Death of Life: A Challenge to Christians. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture 2002, vol. 7, no. 2, , pp. 202-1, https://doi.org/10.1558/ecotheology.v7i2.202.
Miller, Vincent J., and Vincent Jude Miller. Consuming religion: Christian faith and practice in a consumer culture. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2005.
Miller, Vincent J. The theological and ecological vision of Laudato Si': everything is connected. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017.
Miller, Vincent J. "Integral ecology: Francis’s spiritual and moral vision of interconnectedness." The Theological Vision and Ecological Vision of Laudato Si’: Everything is Connected. London: Bloomsbury 2017, 11-28.
Schlesinger, Eugene R. "A Trinitarian Basis for a “Theological Ecology” in Light of Laudato Si’." Theological studies 79.2 2018, 339-355.
Schlesinger, Eugene R. "The Church’s Eucharistic Poverty in the Theologies of Jon Sobrino and Hans Urs von Balthasar." Theological Studies 2016 77.3, 627-651.
Gruber, J. Ec(o)clesiology: Ecology as Ecclesiology in Laudato Si’. Theological Studies 2017, 78(4), 807-824. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040563917731747
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article is an inspiring proposal to show the impact of the Church's teaching on ecology on concrete solutions in Lebanon.
It is written in good, academic language, the reasoning is logical, and the conclusions are justified. What is not entirely clear is the transition from actions taken in the university to initiatives in the state. What is the impact of one on the other? Is there a connection between the two? This thread calls for clarification.
The topic is set in its proper context, but it seems that too much space has been devoted to liberation theology in proportion to the other threads.
There are also unnecessary repetitions (e.g. l. 240-244).
The biggest shortcoming of the article is the inconsistency in reference to sources. There are passages where, despite references to various authors, they are not properly sourced (e.g., 2.3; 3). In addition, items appear in the bibliography that are not present in the main text. This issue absolutely must be cleaned up and unified. The same applies to the bibliographic notation itself, which is not consistent in the text. Mostly the reference to sources is correct, but there are cases of using the abbreviation of the title of a document instead of the name (l. 114); inconsistent use of the name of popes once with the title (pope) once without; when referring to the thought of authors, their names are unnecessarily placed in parentheses (e.g. l. 425), or are unnecessarily repeated in a situation where the year of publication would be sufficient in parentheses (e.g. l. 399).
Author Response
Answering Reviewer 2:
Thank you for your valuable comments and insights. We sincerely appreciate your time and effort in reviewing our work, and we will carefully consider your suggestions to enhance the quality of our research.
The article is an inspiring proposal to show the impact of the Church's teaching on ecology on concrete solutions in Lebanon.
It is written in good, academic language, the reasoning is logical, and the conclusions are justified. What is not entirely clear is the transition from actions taken in the university to initiatives in the state. What is the impact of one on the other? Is there a connection between the two? This thread calls for clarification.
Thank you for this comment, I have clarified this matter and added a paragraph to the manuscript: Universities, inspired by Laudato Si', play an important role in connecting environmental awareness to state-level legislation. Education is a key component of Laudato Si', highlighting the need for an ecological transformation that begins with knowledge and awareness. Universities help shape national environmental issues through academic research, sustainable campus activities, and community engagement. In Lebanon, where environmental difficulties are linked with social and economic issues, higher education institutions act as change agents by encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders. Universities that incorporate the Church's ecological teachings into educational programs and sustainability projects not only develop a new generation of environmentally conscientious leaders, but also give scientific evidence and innovative solutions that guide state policies.
The topic is set in its proper context, but it seems that too much space has been devoted to liberation theology in proportion to the other threads.
Thank you for this comment, I have added new references to the other paragraphs and elaborated the discussion.
There are also unnecessary repetitions (e.g. l. 240-244).
The repetitions are removed
The biggest shortcoming of the article is the inconsistency in reference to sources. There are passages where, despite references to various authors, they are not properly sourced (e.g., 2.3; 3). In addition, items appear in the bibliography that are not present in the main text.
Thank you, I have deleted some outdated refernces and replaced with newer ones and added the appropriate sources.
This issue absolutely must be cleaned up and unified. The same applies to the bibliographic notation itself, which is not consistent in the text. Mostly the reference to sources is correct, but there are cases of using the abbreviation of the title of a document instead of the name (l. 114);
Thank you for this comment, I have reviewed all refernces and added new references that are cited in the manuscript.
inconsistent use of the name of popes once with the title (pope) once without; when referring to the thought of authors, their names are unnecessarily placed in parentheses (e.g. l. 425), or are unnecessarily repeated in a situation where the year of publication would be sufficient in parentheses (e.g. l. 399).
All the names are now unified and the refernce styles and citations as well and I thank you for this remark.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe research structure is not clearly defined. The research questions and hypothesis appear only later in the text, but they should be explicitly stated in the introduction. The methodology requires a dedicated section, ideally placed at the beginning of the article (preferably after the introduction).
The argumentation needs better coherence between different sections. The introduction suggests a theological analysis, yet the subsequent sections focus on socio-political issues without a clear connection to the main thesis.
The terminology is inconsistent. In the table (line 289), the names of the popes are presented in different ways, which should be standardized.
The article could engage more extensively with the latest academic literature on integral ecology and theological environmental studies.
The conclusions need to be strengthened. They should directly relate to the findings presented in the article, align with the research framework, and highlight their implications.
The writing style needs improvement. Some sections are overly descriptive, which weakens the academic clarity. Additionally, certain parts of the text require refinement to improve the quality of English expression.
Author Response
Thank you for your valuable comments and insights. We sincerely appreciate your time and effort in reviewing our work, and we will carefully consider your suggestions to enhance the quality of our research.
The research structure is not clearly defined. The research questions and hypothesis appear only later in the text, but they should be explicitly stated in the introduction. The methodology requires a dedicated section, ideally placed at the beginning of the article (preferably after the introduction).
Thank you for this comment, I have restructured certain parts of the manuscript to answer your requierements and placed the methodology at the end of the introduction section.
The argumentation needs better coherence between different sections. The introduction suggests a theological analysis, yet the subsequent sections focus on socio-political issues without a clear connection to the main thesis.
Thank you for pointing out this matter, I have connected these issues and added to the introduction, the following: The ecological crisis is not only an environmental issue but also a moral and social challenge, as emphasized in Laudato Si’. Pope Francis urges a holistic approach that integrates theology, ethics, and concrete action to address environmental degradation and social injustice. This research builds on the encyclical’s call for an "ecological conversion" by exploring how the teachings of the Catholic Church can shape educational initiatives and policy frameworks in Lebanon. Given Lebanon's unique socio-political and religious landscape, the intersection of faith, governance, and environmental stewardship presents both challenges and opportunities. By examining the role of education in fostering ecological responsibility, this study aims to bridge theological reflection with actionable solutions that contribute to sustainable development and social justice in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
The terminology is inconsistent. In the table (line 289), the names of the popes are presented in different ways, which should be standardized.
Thank you for this comment, all popes names are standardized throughout the manuscript.
The article could engage more extensively with the latest academic literature on integral ecology and theological environmental studies.
The reference list is updated with new literature:
Messias, T. From Ecotheology to Ecospirituality in Laudato sí—Ecological Spirituality beyond Christian Religion. Religions 2024, 15, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15010068
Lane, Dermot A. Nature Praising God: Towards a Theology of the Natural World. Liturgical Press, 2023.
McDonagh, Sean. The Death of Life: A Challenge to Christians. Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture 2002, vol. 7, no. 2, , pp. 202-1, https://doi.org/10.1558/ecotheology.v7i2.202.
Miller, Vincent J., and Vincent Jude Miller. Consuming religion: Christian faith and practice in a consumer culture. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2005.
Miller, Vincent J. The theological and ecological vision of Laudato Si': everything is connected. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017.
Miller, Vincent J. "Integral ecology: Francis’s spiritual and moral vision of interconnectedness." The Theological Vision and Ecological Vision of Laudato Si’: Everything is Connected. London: Bloomsbury 2017, 11-28.
Schlesinger, Eugene R. "A Trinitarian Basis for a “Theological Ecology” in Light of Laudato Si’." Theological studies 79.2 2018, 339-355.
Schlesinger, Eugene R. "The Church’s Eucharistic Poverty in the Theologies of Jon Sobrino and Hans Urs von Balthasar." Theological Studies 2016 77.3, 627-651.
Gruber, J. Ec(o)clesiology: Ecology as Ecclesiology in Laudato Si’. Theological Studies 2017, 78(4), 807-824. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040563917731747
The conclusions need to be strengthened. They should directly relate to the findings presented in the article, align with the research framework, and highlight their implications.
Thank you for this comment, the conclusion is shortened and present directly the findings.
The writing style needs improvement. Some sections are overly descriptive, which weakens the academic clarity. Additionally, certain parts of the text require refinement to improve the quality of English expression.
Thank you for this comment, I have asked for a professional service to proofread the manuscript and improve the writing style.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsNo further comments.
Author Response
Thank you, dear reviewer, for the time devoted to manuscrpit and for all of the helpful constructive feedback you gave me to improve the quality of the submitted work.
The author
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe current version of the article does not contain the previous deficiencies and as such meets the criteria for a scientific article and can be safely recommended for publication.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageThe English language in the article is correct and precise.
Author Response
Thank you, dear reviewer, for the time devoted to manuscrpit and for all of the helpful constructive feedback you gave me to improve the quality of the submitted work.
best regards
the author
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe revisions have significantly improved the paper. The argumentation is now coherent and logically structured, with well-supported references to scholarly literature.
I recommend refining the abstract to clearly reflect the research directions and methodological approach. A few precise modifications would help readers grasp the study’s objectives more easily and improve its visibility in academic indexing databases.
Some sections still read more like an essay rather than a scholarly article, particularly those discussing social issues and the situation in Lebanon. At times, the tone resembles journalistic commentary rather than academic analysis. It would be beneficial to refine the language to align more closely with scholarly standards by focusing on analytical precision and minimizing subjective or descriptive elements.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageMinor language refinements can be addressed in the final editorial process.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for your valuable feedback and for recognizing the improvements made in the manuscript. In response to your comments:
I have revised the abstract to improve readability and ensure the study is well-positioned for visibility in academic indexing databases as you have suggested.
Moreover, I have carefully revised sections discussing Lebanon to ensure they align with scholarly standards reducing journalistic style to ensure a more academically rigorous discussion.
Last but not least, i am sending you the certificate of proofreading that was conducted on the manuscript ensuring more appropriate language and style in the attached document.
I appreciate your time and constructive feedback, which have been instrumental in strengthening this manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
