Environmental Justice Program
Querida Amazonia [Beloved Amazon]
Pope Francis has released a new Apostolic Exhortation, Querida Amazonia, or Beloved Amazon, which focuses on hearing the “cry of the poor” in the Amazon, protecting indigenous rights, solidarity, and action to care for God’s creation. Read the exhortation. Use this study guide (en español) to reflect on the exhortation as an individual or with a group.
EJP: Advocacy
Oral Testimony at EPA Public Hearing on Carbon Pollution Standards
Cecilia Calvo on behalf of Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Bishop Richard E. Pates, July 30, 2014
Comments to EPA on Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants │en Español
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Bishop Richard E. Pates, July 30, 2014
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, May 29, 2014
Letter to President Obama on Climate Change
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, January 30, 2014
Happening Now
New Blog! To Go Forth
Pain. Injustice. Brokenness. Hope. Love. Faith. Wisdom. ToGoForth.org. . . will confront the issues of the day with the insights of the Catholic
social teaching tradition, human stories and the perspective of the
bishops of the United States. You can join the dialogue on Twitter @togoforth.
Backgrounder on Global Climate Change
February 2015
Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship
Reflection by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, October 20, 2014
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Learn how CCHD is helping communities support environmental justice.
Since 2013, CCHD as invested nearly $2.5 million and partnered with
over 35 community-based organizations and 31 dioceses in 22 states to
support environmental justice.
Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and honor God's gift of creation and the Church's teaching on the environment with the following new resources:
Primer on Care for Creation and Pastoral Aids and Homily Helps for Catholic Social Teaching: Care for Creation/Stewardship.
Oral Testimony at EPA Public Hearing on Carbon Pollution Standards
Cecilia Calvo offered testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of Archbishop Wenski and Bishop Pates to welcome standards to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. In the testimony she affirmed that "the moral measure of debate and decisions on climate change will be whether our nation acts with prudence to safeguard God's creation, advance the common good, and protect humanity."
Comments to EPA on Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power Plants │en Español
Archbishop Wenski and Bishop Pates have written the Environmental Protection Agency on the importance of protecting Creation and the health of poor and vulnerable communities by setting a national standard to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.
The Environmental Justice Program (EJP), a program of the Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development, educates and motivates Catholics to a deeper reverence and respect for God's creation, and encourages Catholics to address environmental problems, especially as they affect poor and vulnerable people.
Let us be 'protectors' of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.
The program's distinctively Catholic foundation lies in Pope John Paul II’s 1990 World Day of Peace Message and the Catholic bishops’ pastoral statement on the environment, Renewing the Earth.
Laudato Si’ Advocates Program
The Laudato Si’ Advocates Program is an internship administered by the Environmental Justice Program (EJP), in association with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE). The Program equips college-age individuals with skills to advocate for legislation that promotes the integral ecology described in Laudato Si’. Advocates earn a stipend, attend a training summit in Washington, D.C., receive monthly formation, and are given instruction in advocacy. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply now! Applications for Fall 2020-Spring 2021 internships received before April 1st, 2020 will be given priority.
Laudato Si' Resources
Laudato Si: On Care For Our Common Home
On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si') is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to "every person living on this planet" for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility.
Read the encyclical here.
Laudato Si': Caring for Our Common Home Discussion Guide | en Español - This discussion guide, for use with Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', can help small groups explore and dialogue with this important document.
Laudato Si': Caring for Our Common Home Bulletin Insert | en Español - This one page document is a brief introduction to the encyclical and details ways you can respond to Pope Francis' call.
Prayer to Care for Our Common Home (based on Laudato Si') | en Español
Capitol Hill Briefing on Encyclical Letter Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home
Quotes from Church Teaching on Ecology
EJP: Resources
Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and honor God's gift of creation and
the Church's teaching on the environment with the following new
resources:
Primer on Care for Creation and Pastoral Aids and Homily Helps for Catholic Social Teaching: Care for Creation/Stewardship.
Good Sense, Good Air: While we live we are responsible to the Lord
Keynote Address by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, November 7, 2011
Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration. . .
St. Francis Care for Creation Award. . .
EJP: Climate Change
Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good
The bishops seek to contribute to a national dialogue on climate change by applying the wisdom of Catholic social teaching. The bishops also urge prudent action now on climate change to mitigate its effects on the poor and vulnerable. Read their statement.
EJP: Catholic Campaign for Human Development & Environmental Justice
Learn how CCHD is helping communities support environmental justice.
Since 2013, CCHD as invested nearly $2.5 million and partnered with
over 35 community-based organizations and 31 dioceses in 22 states to
support environmental justice.
CCHD Supports Major Environmental Justice Initiatives
CCHD Groups are Advocating for Environmental Justice