U.S. Bishops Call for Moral Focus on Global Climate Change

Press Release, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, February 7, 2007.

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging members of Congress to address the moral and environmental dimensions of global climate change in the wake of the major international [IPCC] report released last week that cites human activity as the likely cause of rising temperatures around the world... Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, chairman of the U.S. bishops' international policy committee, said in a letter to congressional leaders that the report 'has outlined more clearly and compellingly than ever before the case for serious and urgent action to address the potential consequences of climate change as well as highlighting the dangers and costs of inaction.' Specifically, he addressed three major themes drawn from Catholic Social Teaching that could help inform how policymakers respond to global climate change. First, a 'priority for the poor' must ensure that the needs of the poor and vulnerable around the world are not forgotten. Second, this issue reflects 'a pre-eminent example of how our debate and decisions should reflect the pursuit of the common good, rather than the search for economic, political or other narrow advantage.' Finally, the 'practice of prudence,' which often restrains us from acting in haste, in this case 'requires us to act with urgency.'"