US Archbishop welcomes Obama's Clean Power Plan, citing need to 'care for God's creation'

"A new national standard to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants is an important step forward to protect the health of all people, especially children, the elderly, and poor and vulnerable communities, from harmful pollution and the impacts of climate change," said Archbishop Thomas G Wenski of Miami, in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of a new final rule limiting carbon pollution, on 3 August.

Recently finalized carbon pollution standards will reduce carbon pollution from power plants, the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States. Archbishop Wenski is chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

"The bishops welcome this important move by the administration to adopt long-awaited standards to mitigate climate change and safeguard public health, which are significant ways to live out our responsibility to care for God's creation," Archbishop Wenski said.

In a 24 June letter urging Congress not to block the new standards, Archbishop Wenski emphasized the significance of Pope Francis' encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si', in which the Pope "called on all people to care for God's creation and our common home for the well-being of current and future generations."

The letter is available online at: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/letter-to-congress-on-carbon-standards-2015-06-24.cfm

Archbishop Wenski also expressed support for a national carbon standard in a 30 July, 2014, letter: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/environmental-justice-program/upload/Comments-to-EPA-from-Archbishop-Wenski-Bishop-Pates-on-carbon-pollution-standards-2014-07-30.pdf

See also, today's earlier story: President Obama quotes Pope Francis as he unveils his Clean Power Plan www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=28001