Catholic and Secular Ecological Organizations in Poland and Italy

Religious eco-oriented Catholic organizations are a new phenomenon and the field of ecology is dominated by secular organizations which formulate their goals and motivations beyond the religious discourse. On the other hand, religion is an important factor shaping individual and group identity and actions and, as such, has a great potential for influence on the faithful in their daily decisions and general attitudes towards ecology and environmental crisis. Hence, understanding how dominant actors in the ecological field approach religious organization is vital since it may help diagnose modes of cooperation and boost effectiveness of challenging the environmental crisis. The aim of this article is to analyse the perception of Catholic ecological organizations in Poland and Italy by representatives of secular eco-organizations and their approach towards the Catholic Church’s engagement and attitude towards ecology. Based on ten in-depth individual interviews conducted with selected representatives of secular eco-organizations in Poland and Italy, the article explores the multifaceted relationship between secular and Catholic ecological organizations, focusing on perceptions, collaboration, and the broader sociocultural context in both cultural contexts.