US Bishops urge Congress to legislate to reduce carbon emissions

The chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, has urged Congress to answer Pope Francis' call to protect creation and oppose legislation and appropriation riders that would reverse efforts to develop a national standard to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.

"The US bishops stand united with the Holy Father in his call to protect creation," said Archbishop Thomas G Wenski of Miami, in letters to the US. Senate and House of Representatives.

Archbishop Wenski emphasized the importance of Pope Francis' encyclical on ecology, Laudato Si', released last week where Pope Francis "called on all people to care for God's creation and our common home for the well-being of current and future generations."

"Our Conference has long spoken out on the importance of prudent action to address the growing impact of global climate change," wrote Archbishop Wenski. "As government leaders, we ask you to resist any effort to impair the development of a national carbon standard and instead to support our nation's ability to address this urgent global challenge confronting the human family."

His letter to Congress 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 along with Bishop Pates, former Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace also wrote a previous July 30, 2014 letter to the EPA expressing support for a national carbon standard: 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