EarthBeat Weekly: In midterms, Catholic voters must keep national parks in mind

EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change October 16, 2026   In midterms, Catholic voters must keep national parks in mind by Stephanie J. Peddicord Attacks on the National Park Service are just tip of the iceberg of ecological sins, and a specifically Catholic issue. Read more here »     When it comes to creation, we need to be more pious by Daniel P. Horan St. Bonaventure's characterization of St. Francis' ecological piety highlights virtue of kinship. Read more here »   Sustainability award bearing Pope Leo's name spotlights his own environmental record by Brian Roewe The new Pope Leo Sustainability Medal, created by Villanova University, puts a spotlight not just on its inaugural recipient but on how Leo has situated environmental concern for the church during his papacy so far. Read more here »   President Trump is both attacking green energy and helping it by Thomas Reese, Religion News Service Before the war with Iran, the world was moving to green energy because it was cheaper. Now it is a stampede, impelled by both economics and national security. Read more here »   A spotted sandpiper dances as I birdwatch with Kierkegaard by Nikolas Dahmen The Danish Christian thinker Søren Kierkegaard envisioned birds as teachers worthy of our attention. What can birdwatching teach us about joy? Read more here »   Featured Advertisers Enhance your ministry and advance your degree. Explore flexible online certificate and degree programs at Saint Vincent Seminary. What should Catholics consider when voting in the 2026 midterm elections? Join NCR for a conversation with expert panelists on Oct. 19 at 2 PM ET / 1 PM CT.   Advertisement

Sojourners - Ms. Rachel among the prophets

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners Ms. Rachel’s song “Hop Little Bunny” has 143 million views on YouTube. About 75 of those were me.  I learned about Ms. Rachel the way most aunties do: from watching the prolific YouTuber mesmerize my two-year-old niece. The songs in Ms. Rachel’s channel land somewhere between “Baby Shark” and Taize chants for toddlers: simple, repetitive lyrics that worm their way into your soul. Add hand motions and affirming, age-appropriate wisdom (For example, on potty training: “This whole thing is new / But you are amazing / I believe in you!”), and kids are transfixed—at least, until the grown-ups in the room need a break from the sweet, sing-songy rhymes.  I was surprised, then, when Sojourners colleagues mentioned Ms. Rachel in a conversation about genocide in Gaza. Rachel Griffin Accurso is not just a genius creator of toddler content; she is also a Christian whose faith has inspired her to speak out against anti-Black racism and in support of Palestinian children. In one clip that especially provoked critics, Ms. Rachel plays with Rahaf, a little girl from Gaza who lost both her legs in an Israeli air strike.   For Rev. Gerlyn Henry, this sets Ms. Rachel among the biblical prophets: “She took a child who state violence had tried to make invisible and placed her center stage, forcing millions of people to look at the human cost of the genocide in Gaza.” But being prophetic was never just about public advocacy. Henry points out that there’s also something prophetic about tactics that “may seem basic,” but gently, firmly, and yes, repetitively, say otherwise.   Elsewhere this week: Saving the evangelicals? Bonnie Kristian’s new book argues that evangelicals have been unfairly critiqued. Sojourners’ Mitchell Atencio had some questions.   Aslan’s pronouns: Here’s everything we know about Greta Gerwig’s Narnia, including the director’s favorite C.S. Lewis book and Meryl Streep’s, uh, mane role.  A hunger for justice: We’re all too familiar with the kind of Christianity that quietly (or loudly) supports injustice. So…what’s the opposite?  Flamenco-inspired forgiveness: Laurel Mathewson sees a 34-year-old Spanish pop star through the approving eyes of a 16th-century Spanish mystic.   Awkward prayers: To the question “Have you prayed about it?” many faith and justice leaders would answer “yes.” Yet so would Pete Hegseth. Where do we go from here?  Destroying the Ring (camera): “When my wife and I moved into our new house, one of the first things we did was tear out the surveillance system,” writes Rose Marie Berger.  And one more thing: Last week, I described pumpkin spice hummus as “questionable,” but one reader wrote back and said: “You might be surprised.” While I suppose that’s true, I still can’t bring myself to “taste and see,” but I appreciate the reminder to leave room for new perspectives. Keep it coming!  Ms. Rachel Is Simply Prophetic How do we teach children to say basic but radical things so that we can change the future? Read the full article Advertisement Community Notes This email from Judith Mangubat in Washington, D.C. in response to the article “‘We’d Rather Be Prepared’: Faith Leaders Organize Ahead of Tense Midterms” has us thinking about ways to get involved in the upcoming midterm elections:   I became a pollworker more than 30 years ago and served in various roles; including ballot clerk, ADA voter assistance, IT technical advisor, precinct captain, and early voting site coordinator. De-escalation and conflict resolution skills are indispensable for each role; robust support and instant communication networks among precincts, election administrators, and public safety teams are extremely important.   We want to hear what you’re doing to help during this election season. Are you planning to vote? Give a ride to someone so they can vote, too? Proudly display your “I voted” sticker? Help work at a polling station? Hit reply to this email and let us know.  Our Latest Stories A Defender of Evangelicalism Answers Our Questions (by Mitchell Atencio) Bonnie Kristian’s new book argues critics are unfair to evangelicals, but are evangelicals unfair to their reformers? Read more Everything We Learned About Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Adaptation (by Tyler Huckabee) Narnia fans can rest easy. That was my thought upon leaving a sneak peek at Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia adaptation. Read more This Is What An Antifascist Spirituality Looks Like (by Adam Joyce) Resisting Christofascism means developing antifascist spiritual practices. Read more Attending a Rosalía Concert with Teresa of Avila (by Laurel Mathewson) Rosalía takes the stage as a global pop star. But she performs in the tradition of saints and mystics. Read more From the Magazine: When Oppressor and Oppressed Pray to the Same God (by Liz Cooledge Jenkins) Praying doesn’t mean God is on our side. Read more From the Archives: Why We Tore Out Our House’s Surveillance System (by Rose Marie Berger) Under whose watchful gaze do we choose to live? And what does real security look like? Read more Advertisements Catholic Charities: Neighbors Helping Neighbors When neighbors help neighbors, hope blossoms. For more than a century, 170 Catholic Charities agencies have served communities across the country and down the street, no matter beliefs or differences. Be the hope around the corner — in your neighborhood, nationwide. Learn more and volunteer at PeopleofHope.us. Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842

WCC NEWS: WCC presents Geneva Peace Forum panel on what faith brings to peacebuilding

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will host a panel at the Geneva Peace Forum on 15 October to explore the role of faith-based actors in peacebuilding.  Religious leaders and representatives of ecumenical organizations gather for a Talanoa dialogue at the eve of COP27 in Egypt, November 2022. Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth 14 October 2026 “What Faith Brings to the Dialogue Table” will take place from 13:00 to 14:30 CEST in Plenary B at the CICG, Rue de Varembé 17. Participants can also join online. The event is co-organized by WCC’s partners ACT Alliance, Arigatou International, and Caritas Internationalis. In many places, religious leaders and faith-based organizations are the only authority trusted by all sides. The panel asks what makes faith-based peacebuilding distinctive, how these actors can be better integrated into the “peace ecosystem,” and how their influence can help counter the declining respect for international humanitarian law. The session will also draw on a 2026 Applied Research Project at the Geneva Graduate Institute, “Strengthening the Moral Force of International Humanitarian Law Through Faith-based Advocacy.”  Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, will moderate. Speakers include Jenny Neme Neiva, WCC special envoy for dialogue and political engagement; Wendyam Hervé Lankoandé, WCC, International Geneva Peace Fellowship; Rayane Baydoun, project officer in Emergency Response and Youth at the Adyan Foundation; and Mgr Héctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, director of FICONPAZ. Dr Rachel Tavernor, global advocacy and policy manager at ACT Alliance, will give closing remarks. Join the event online More information: genevapeaceforum.ch See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC News: WCC meeting discusses addressing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege on 13 October to discuss calls for stronger international action to end violence and advance lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege and general secretary of the World Council of Churches Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay during the meeting at the WCC office, 13 October 2026. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 13 October 2026 Mukwege, a physician from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a renowned human rights defender. The discussion highlighted the role of external actors in perpetuating the conflict and undermining efforts to achieve peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WCC general secretary and Mukwege also discussed how the international community could exert greater pressure on external actors, particularly Rwanda, to end any support that fuels armed conflict and instability. The ongoing crisis has displaced millions of people and left millions more facing severe food insecurity, shortage of medical supplies, and increasing humanitarian need. There is a growing concern for the safety and security of women and children who usually suffer the most in such situations. The dialogue noted that achieving peace requires accountable national leadership, decisive international engagement, a commitment to addressing the underlying causes of the conflict—and help from churches. Pillay reaffirmed the WCC’s commitment to accompanying the people and churches of the Democratic Republic of Congo in their pursuit of justice, peace, and self-determination. He pledged to raise international awareness of a crisis that often receives insufficient attention in international media and to work with global and local church networks to influence political processes towards a peaceful resolution. “The international community must not turn a blind eye to the suffering and atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said. “We must intensify our efforts to achieve peace and enable communities to rebuild their lives in dignity and security. This is impossible while violence and armed conflict continue.” Pillay and Mukwege also discussed economic interests that continue to undermine peace. The Democratic Republic of Congo possesses vast mineral resources essential to global industries, including technologies supporting the green transition. Yet, the exploitation and illicit trade of these resources have contributed to insecurity and the suffering of local communities. “The churches have a vital role to play in standing alongside the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, amplifying their calls for justice, and building momentum for peace,” Pillay said. “The WCC will continue to work with churches and partners locally and globally to raise awareness, encourage political action, and support efforts towards a just and lasting peace.” WCC member churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland