Legislative Ask for the promotion of the Integrity of Creation:
The National Passionist JPIC Office believes that the global warming crisis is at a tipping point. We believe that to stave off the worst effects of global warming, the United States must quickly pass strong legislation including a mandatory cap on emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping pollutants. We support legislation that will protect the environment from CO2 emissions and that will push the private industry and the American consumer to use renewable sources of energy. We also support legislation that conserves our natural resources and protects our bio-diversity.
Consider the Passionist Brief on protecting the Integrity of Creation.
In the meantime we ask you to add your voice in promoting these two legislative initiatives:
-
Urge your Senator to end Mountaintop Removal and protect Appalachia’s mountain’s stream and Communities. (https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr001=b50dkydro2.app20a&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=911) The Coal Mining industry has been using this destructive method to uncover thin seams of coal. Unfortunately this practice of environmental degradation is having a horrific effect on the Appalachian communities by destroying their natural environment and sources of fresh mountain water. Visit this legislative action campaign by Sierra Club and urge your representatives to support H.R. 2169.
-
2. Educate yourself on the issue of Renewable Energy and (http://beyondoil.nrdc.org/fuel/cleanenergy) Ask Congress not to reverse any protection against dirty fuels. (http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_mabo_042808). We know that our nation must move away from fossil fuel in order to address some of the mayor environmental and social challenges that confront us. While Congress is in transition take some time to become aware of renewable energy and in the meantime request that Congress not support H.R. 5656 which would eliminate some of the protection that already exist.
To find out who your legislators are, click here:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
Passionist Brief on the Integrity of Creation
…Our life-style must stand out as a prophetic condemnation of the injustices among which we live; it should be a continual witness against the abuses of a consumer society.
~Passionist Constitution: Article 72
While issues of peace and poverty are Gospel issues that have been part of our tradition from the beginning, the issues that concern our responsibility with our world are rather new. Our theology has always maintained an intrinsic integrity of all of creation in that it is a holy work of God. From the book of Genesis we know of our sacred duty to be responsible stewards of creation. We also recognize from the book of Romans and Revelation that all of creation, and not just ourselves, will be redeemed at the end of time.
What is new in our understanding is the negative ways that our human industrial development and resource consumption have impacted our sacred creation. Our Earth is in the midst of great suffering and humankind has been responsible for much of this pain. Our Passionist mandate to serve the suffering members of our world is not limited to the human community. This mandate also extends to our Christian commitment to be responsible stewards of our Earth.
We do this not only out of a sense of Christian duty, but also because these environmental repercussions add to our own personal suffering and, of course, to the poor and marginalized who will feel the effects before, and often more severely, than others.
Global warming and the resulting climate change have been of great concern for our Community. While there are many environmental issues that we are sensitive to, none poses as imminent an emergency as this. We recognize that our reliance on fossil fuel has made a serious contribution to this environmental degradation. This issue is further compounded when we consider the development of China and India and what that will mean for further carbon emissions.
For that reason we advocate against further carbon emissions and promote the use of renewable or at least more efficient energy use.
For more information, visit: http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/default.asp
