California bishop laments effects of climate change
Catholic World News
March 15, 2012
Bishop Patrick McGrath of San Jose has asked parishioners in his diocese to renew the St. Francis Pledge on Earth Day.
“By taking this pledge,” he noted, “we agree to pray to reflect on our responsibility to care for God's creation and protect the poor and vulnerable; learn about and educate others about climate change; assess how we contribute to climate change in our homes, our schools, our parishes and in the chancery; act to reduce our climate change impact; [and] advocate Catholic principles in climate change discussions and policy work.”
“We have seen how environmental degradation and climate change are affecting God’s creation, including people here and all over the world,” Bishop McGrath added. “This is a particular tragedy because it is the poorest and most vulnerable who suffer the worst, even though they have contributed the least to these problems. This fact prompted Pope John Paul II to declare that ‘the ecological crisis is a moral issue’ and Pope Benedict XVI to call upon us to become ‘true guardians of life and creation.’”
“Our Catholic Social Justice Teaching impresses upon us that nature is not something to exploit; rather, is God's creation to preserve,” he added. “We are called to celebrate the splendor of God's handiwork, to be good stewards of creation, and to safeguard the integrity of all that God has made.”