Religious Leaders Muse on the Morality of Climate Change
Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori's categorization of climate change denial as 'sinful,' stirred up some interesting discussion last week. A panel of distinguished religious leaders were asked to speak on the matter of climate change being a moral issue, and their responses exemplify the growing concern of faith leaders to act for the climate.
Ryan J. Earl, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, shared, 'As beneficiaries of this divine creation, we have an obligation and are accountable to gratefully care for the earth and be wise stewards over it.'
The list of religious leaders who responded to the question represent various denominations of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism. While their backgrounds may vary, a consensus that God's creation should be protected rang true.
Faith Forum: Is Climate Change a Moral Issue?
By Rajan Zed for The Reno Gazette-Journal
The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of Episcopal Church with about 2.1 million members and part of the Anglican Communion, has been recently quoted in the media indicating that it's "sinful" to ignore climate change; climate denial is "immoral;" "it's decidedly wrong to use resources that have been given into our collective care in ways that diminish the ability of others to share in abundant life;" "we are meant to love God and what God has created;" "we were planted in this garden to care for it;" and climate change is a moral challenge threatening the rights of the world's poorest people and those who deny it are not using God's gift of knowledge.
His holiness Pope Francis also made some forceful statements on global warming in the past.
Do we turn our backs to God when we engage in climate denial? Does such denial carry moral implications?