Bishop Blaire Cites Importance of Good Environmental Stewardship, Clean Air in Address to Interfaith Gathering

WASHINGTON—Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development said that people praise, honor and serve God “when we care for all living beings by protecting the air, which is God’s gift to us,” in a November 7 address to interfaith leaders. Bishop Blaire spoke at the Festival of Faiths conference in Louisville, Kentucky, the theme of which was “Sacred Air: Breath of Life.”

“As stewards of God’s creation we can live more simply, using the earth’s resources wisely, reducing our consumption, working to eliminate air pollution and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Bishop Blaire. “In the end it just makes good sense to want to have clean air for our children and families to breathe and for future generations.”

In his address, Bishop Blaire highlighted the specific threat of mercury and other toxic air pollution to children’s health.

“Children, inside and outside the womb, are uniquely vulnerable to environmental hazards and exposure to toxic pollutants in the environment,” he said. For this reason, he noted, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is working to “raise awareness about the need for a national standard that would significantly reduce mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants and would protect our unborn and young children.”

Full text of Bishop Blaire’s address is available at: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/upload/Good-Sense-Good-Air-November-7-2011_FINAL.pdf

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Keywords: environmental justice, USCCB, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, USCCB, clean air, pollution, interfaith, pro-life, children’s health, safety, hazards, toxic, mercury, stewardship

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