The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change will be launching a unique and unprecedented initiative, a Catholic Climate Covenant: the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor. This ambitious project is in response to a growing desire by the Catholic community to respond, in faith, to climate change.
Since its launch in 2006, the coalition has also focused its work on providing a forum to explore the issues and faith implications of climate change through hosted hearings around the country.
Second, the coalition also works to connect Catholics by staying in touch with state and diocesan leaders who are promoting climate change activities. The coalition also works with other national Catholic partners and assists them in connecting the issue of climate change within their institutions.
Dioceses and Catholic organizations are partnering to work on local climate change issues. The coalition’s third area of work is to promote participation by linking these efforts to Environmental Justice Program grants through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Through articles, workshops and presentations, the executive director, Dan Misleh, has encouraged U.S. Catholics to learn more about climate change issues and the Catholic approach, which emphasizes the pursuit of the common good, promotion of the virtue of prudence and the protection of the poorest of our brothers and sisters.
The coalition sends regular updates to keep interested persons informed of its activities and current events. Find the recent and previous updates from CCCC at www.catholicsandclimatechange.org.
St. Francis Pledge
At the center of the Catholic Climate Covenant will be the St. Francis Pledge calling Catholic individuals, groups and institutions to make a serious commitment to all of the following:
PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s creation and for the poor and vulnerable;
LEARN about and educate others on the moral dimensions of climate change;
ASSESS our participation-as individuals and organizations in contributing to climate change (i.e. consumption and conservation);
ACT to change our choices and behaviors contributing to climate change and;
ADVOCATE Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact the poor and vulnerable.
