JustFaith, IL and National

JustFaith Ministries offersan important education and faith formation study, Creation Cries for Justice, Climate Change: Impact and Response. In conjunction with the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, JustFaith provides this eight-week curriculum containing faith and science resources that address climate change in solidarity with the poor and for use by faith communities.  Rooted in Catholic social teaching and informed by the Bishops’ statement, Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good, the program heightens awareness of Catholics about the impact of climate change on poor and vulnerable people and encourages participants to engage in action for care of God’s creation.

The approach to global climate change elaborated by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change and the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Environmental Justice Program has been to focus on the themes of prudence, poverty and the common good, consistent with Catholic social teaching. This module expands and explores these principles and has a strong emphasis on how climate change will impact the poor at home and abroad.

Creation Cries for Justice draws out arguments for and against action and demonstrates—through both faith and science—the hazards to poor people of doing nothing. This module on climate change promotes action items for stopping further global warming (mitigation) and what is needed to help the poor, who will be most impacted by climate change (adaptation).  The format includes worship, readings, videos, speakers and dialogue with a group of eight to fifteen people who commit to sustained attention on this specific area of social concern, culminating in a call to engage action. Woven throughout the curriculum are prayers, liturgy, quotes and poems aimed at inspiring and sustaining action on climate change in solidarity with the poor.

Sessions in the study cover:

• Catholic Theology on the Environment: Reflections on our place in and responsibility for God’s creation. Voices on the theology of ecology and the implications for future generations.
• The Science of Climate Change: In the face of the consensus of the scientific community about climate change, how do we deal with fear, dread, and feelings of powerlessness?
• Climate Change and People in Poverty: Voices and experiences of the poor and marginalized focus on social justice connections, environmental racism and the impact on the poorest people at home and abroad.
• Border-Crossing Experience: An action, engagement, field trip or immersion that sheds light on the implication of climate change and what we can do to address it. An opportunity to learn about the sources of our energy and our local “carbon footprint”.
• Where do we go from here? : What actions are we committed to taking so that everyone can live in a sustainable future, strengthened by our faith community?

Since the curriculum was launched in the Fall 2008, over 100 parishes have engaged in this opportunity for study and action.  As a result of experiencing the curriculum, awareness led to action.  Many parishes have developed plans for energy conservation, community education, advocacy, and a deeper commitment to care for God’s creation.

Here are some of the outcomes of using the curriculum:

In the Diocese of Rochester, NY:

The climate change module tied in well with this year's Public Policy advocacy issue - Global Climate Change.  If you'd like to see what we've put together, click here to visit the site...
or just access the resources.

Ruth Putnam Marchetti
Justice and Peace Coordinator
Livingston, Wayne and the Finger Lakes Counties
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester.

In the Diocese of Madison, WI:

It opened my eyes and heart to our Christian responsibility to be prudent with the resources God has provided us with.  Our actions and inactions affect people in our country and the rest of the world in many ways.  I would strongly recommend this course.  It truly opened my eyes about the effects of my lifestyle on the earth and its most vulnerable citizens.

Bill Backes, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish,
Madison, WI
Diocese of Madison
Quoted in Madison Catholic Herald 4/17/08
Article by Mary C. Uhler

From the Archdiocese of Louisville, KY:

“ The group shared many ideas of lifestyle changes that could be started...changing to CFL light bulbs...turning down the thermostat in the winter...walking more...buying some green power from the local utility.....and using the dishwasher less. We know these are only the very first steps of helping with Climate Change but now that our eyes are opened, we are passionate to use less energy and to share our ideas and new knowledge with family, friends, and community. We found the module to be inspiring, motivating, and great for community building.”

Louisville:  Steve Kute, Facilitator