The Catholic Church believes that all individuals have the responsibility to work for the common good of all humanity. The foundation for Catholic environmental concern is rooted in the Church's doctrine of the goodness of Creation and the Church's firm resolve to defend the dignity of each human being, especially the poor and vulnerable. The Catholic Church carries out its teaching and service on behalf of God's Earth and its people through an extensive network: parish churches, parochial schools, hospitals, religious orders and their communities, dioceses, archdioceses, state Catholic Conferences, and national Catholic organizations. Church leaders have called on Catholics to recognize environmental stewardship as their Christian responsibility and Catholic scholars have explored and developed these insights, showing how the message of environmental stewardship is rooted in Church teachings.
In 2006, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in partnership with a dozen other Catholic major institutions, formed the Catholic Climate Covenant to encourage and coordinate Catholic activity on climate change. In 2009, the Coalition launched the Catholic Climate Covenant to encourage Catholic individuals, parishes, schools and other organizations to pray, learn, assess, act and advocate on climate change in light of Catholic social and environmental teaching.
The Catholic bishops address environmental issues on the basis of the Church's social teaching. The policy framework encompasses four priority areas: environmental justice, sustainable development, worker protection, and "the Commons." The priority issues and policy focus is on protecting the poor, environmental health and safety, promoting the common good, and sustainable environmental and economic development.
For a summary of recent activities click here.
In 2006, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in partnership with a dozen other Catholic major institutions, formed the Catholic Climate Covenant to encourage and coordinate Catholic activity on climate change. In 2009, the Coalition launched the Catholic Climate Covenant to encourage Catholic individuals, parishes, schools and other organizations to pray, learn, assess, act and advocate on climate change in light of Catholic social and environmental teaching.
The Catholic bishops address environmental issues on the basis of the Church's social teaching. The policy framework encompasses four priority areas: environmental justice, sustainable development, worker protection, and "the Commons." The priority issues and policy focus is on protecting the poor, environmental health and safety, promoting the common good, and sustainable environmental and economic development.
For a summary of recent activities click here.
![]() "I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be 'protectors' of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment."
- Pope Francis, Inauguration, 3/19/13 |
![]() The Catholic Committee of Appalachia produced "Climate Change: Our Faith Response," a 10-minute DVD and accompanying study guide. This religious education program teaches the church's social teaching principle of care of Creation. The Catholic Committee of Appalachia provides valuable witness in these mountains and brings to life the challenges set forth in both Appalachian Pastoral Letters: "The Land is Home to Me" and "At Home in the Web of Life." Learn more.
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