EarthBeat Weekly: The number one problem is growing

The number one problem is growing Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change July 21, 2023 Collaborative Center for Justice staff and volunteers rally for climate justice at the Connecticut state capitol in 2019. (Courtesy of Dwayne David Paul) I was recently invited to chat with Deacons Tom Casey, Drew Dickson and Dennis Dolan on their podcast DeaconsPod, a production of the Paulist Fathers. We talked about the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution that plagues the world today, what faith groups are doing about it and why Catholics should care in the first place. When the deacons asked me what I thought was the number one ecological problem we face today, I think they expected me to say something like raging wildfires, extreme heat or hazardous air quality (which, to be fair, are very serious problems). Instead, I pointed to something that I think should be especially concerning to Catholics — the growing disparity between those who are able to rapidly adapt to life on a changing planet, and those already vulnerable communities who are now being hit hardest by climate impacts and often don't have access to lifesaving adaptation measures.  People around the world, and even across the country or in different areas of the same city, experience the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution differently. And Catholics should care about that as a matter of justice, centering their concern on the needs of those who are suffering most. Dwayne David Paul, director of the Collaborative Center for Justice, took a similar perspective in his essay on community resilience and empowerment published Monday at EarthBeat, the latest in our series on the goals of the Laudato Si' Action Platform. Beyond the moral imperative the Catholic faith provides, he added a practical impetus for this focus saying, "Centering working-class people is more than just ethical, it is politically expedient. We are the majority, and we are not doing well." Read more of what he had to say in: To advance climate action, enter political fray and center working-class people You can listen to my entire conversation with the Paulist deacons here.   Flooded streets are seen in downtown Montpelier, Vermont, July 11. Severe storms July 9-10 dumped heavy rainfall at intense rates over parts of the Northeast, forcing road closures, water rescues and urgent warnings about life-threatening flash floods. (OSV News/Reuters/Brian Snyder)  What else is new on EarthBeat: How to confront despair about the coming effects of climate change Although the task ahead in addressing global climate change is enormous, despair and denial must not stifle us, said NCR columnist Michael Sean Winters.  An indigo morning among singing hills and simple stone at Nonnberg Abbey In this essay, Sarah Southern shares memories of a morning in Salzburg, lulled by the subtle chants of anonymous nuns, when she felt a presence she'd never felt before. Peace and beauty spilled forth from a closed room at Nonnberg Abbey, meeting each person in tenderness. Sisters model women's diaconal ministry in the Amazon In remote lands with no priests, the Congregation of Franciscan Catechists are the church's presence. Their ministry makes it possible to imagine women's diaconal ministry, reported Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons for NCR.  Quechua community in Peruvian Andes spreads seeds of the Gospel The only way to achieve a good and truly human life in a place like the Andes mountains, far from the cities that have more resources, is the support and protection of the community, wrote Augustinian Sr. Begoña Costillo for Global Sisters Report. Pipestone carvers preserve revered Native spiritual tradition in Minnesota prairie Under the tall prairie grass outside this southwestern Minnesota town lies a precious seam of dark red pipestone that, for thousands of years, Native Americans have quarried and carved into pipes essential to prayer and communication with the Creator. Only a dozen Dakota carvers remain, Giovanna Dell'orto reported for The Associated Press. Rare Einstein letter rebutting biblical creation story for sale A letter written by Albert Einstein on the creation of the universe is for sale publicly at the Raab Collection in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. It is valued at $125,000, reported Richa Karmarkar for Religion News Service.   What's happening in other climate news: She's on a Mission From God: Suing Big Oil for Climate Damages —David Gelles for The New York Times Seattle University becomes first WA college to divest from fossil fuels —Daisy Zavala Magaña for The Seattle Times Young Korean artists reflect on Laudato si' through sacred art —Andrea Rego for Vatican News Throwing soup at a Van Gogh? Why climate activists are targeting art —Yessenia Funes for National Geographic Grist and AP launch reporting collaboration on climate and disease —Rachel Glickhouse for Grist   Final Beat: You can now find EarthBeat on Threads, the new text-based social media platform launched by Meta via Instagram a few weeks ago. Our handle is the same on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads, so just look for @EarthBeatNCR. Additionally on the new platform, you may want to follow NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe at @broewe_ncr and I'm on that platform as @stephanieclary.  No matter how you get your faith and climate news, thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org   Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!