For Immediate Release: April 19, 2017
Women-Church Convergence Statement on the Climate Crisis
Member groups of Women-Church Convergence (W-CC) issued the following statement:
As Earth Day, April 22, is marked worldwide, the following members of W-CC join thousands of other organizations and individuals in decrying the current state of the world where environmental degradation is increasing quickly.
We hold political leaders, business leaders and religious leaders accountable for protecting our environment worldwide, and condemn damaging and myopic policies that are threatening human civilization
The signs of distress, human and ecological, are all around. Drought threatens life in places as diverse as the Sudan and California. Food production is at risk. Human health weakens. Countless species of animal and plant life are threatened. Increasing carbon emissions compromise clean air necessary to sustain healthy life. Disastrous climate events such as floods, storms and hurricanes increase.
We at W-CC draw some encouragement from Pope Francis’ encyclical of June, 2016 “Laudato Si” which laments the despoliation of Earth, God’s first revelation. Any courageous follow-up by United States Catholic bishops has been sadly absent. Their last statement on the environment was issued in 2001. So, we look elsewhere: to scientists, who warn that the present level of carbon emissions in the atmosphere, at 500 parts per million, must be reduced to 350 ppm, if life is to survive.
Climate change and environmental degradation disproportionately impact those living in or near poverty, especially women and children. As feminists, our concern lies here especially. As people of faith, we regard creation as holy and call for an end to exploitation.
We are shocked and dismayed at the present U.S. administration, as it blindly and callously moves to delegitimize science, bring back coal production, and withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.
W-CC encourages its supporters to participate in any of the 400 global “March for Science” actions happening this week. We call on women and men of faith to raise their concerns for planetary health to politicians, business leaders, and Church leaders.
We will continue to work with others for ecological justice, equality, a simplified lifestyle and inclusion of all.
Signed:
8th Day Center for Justice
A Critical Mass: Women Celebrating Eucharist
DignityUSA
Catholics for Choice Canada
Loretto Women's Network
Mary's Pence
National Coalition of American Nuns
Roman Catholic Womenpriests
Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)
Women-Church Baltimore
Women-Church of the Wabash Valley
Women's Ordination Conference
(WOC)
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Women-Church Convergence (W-CC) is a coalition of autonomous Catholic-rooted groups working to build just social and ecclesial structures with shared power for everyone, especially women and those whom church and society marginalize. Women-Church Convergence amplifies diverse feminist, faith-filled voices. We create spaces in which all can live out their vision of full inclusion in church and society. Our commitment to feminist ministries and our social justice values lead us to act boldly in the world for the benefit of all.