EarthBeat Weekly: Social justice, Catholic social teaching and climate change

Social justice, Catholic social teaching and climate change Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change February 23, 2024   Windmill turbines are seen in this illustration photo. Since the U.S. church owns nearly 100,000 buildings, Catholic decarbonization could shift local energy markets and show society the morality of decarbonization. (CNS/Reuters/Pascal Rossignol) Tuesday was World Day of Social Justice, as declared by the United Nations.In a new column at EarthBeat, moral theologian Daniel DiLeo says it's an important day for Catholics to celebrate because social justice is key to Catholic social teaching. And over the past 30 years, Catholic social teaching has "consistently recognized climate change as an urgent moral crisis," says DiLeo. He highlighted the Diocese of Davenport in Iowa and the Archdiocese of Chicago as two of the only dioceses in the United States who he thinks are taking the climate crisis, and Catholic social teaching on the matter, seriously by taking decisive and measurable steps toward decarbonization. DiLeo thinks all U.S. dioceses should do the same. He argues "that the near-total lack of U.S. Catholic decarbonization commitments is a failure to faithfully live the church's evangelical mission. It is a social sin of omission — a failure to do the right thing — that compromises Catholic moral commitments, including to protect human life." Read more: Every bishop should decarbonize his diocese — and other Catholics can help For more examples of how the Catholic Church is participating in environmental justice in line with what is called for by Catholic social teaching, revisit these recent EarthBeat stories: Edmundite Missions' Black Farmers Initiative boosts rural community A year after cyclone, church in Malawi rallies residents to tackle climate change by planting trees Catholic sisters in rural Zimbabwe promote environmental awareness In first for US church, San Diego Diocese divests from fossil fuels US bishops, Catholic sister meet with White House officials about climate change     What else is new at EarthBeat:   It's time for the Catholic Church to return Indigenous land by Elisha Chi Indigenous land reclamation is happening in many ways. Still lacking in the Catholic Church, however, is a truly systemic approach. Part of the solution could be reconfiguring the U.S. bishops' Black and Indian Mission Office.   How to vault Catholic social teaching from 'best kept secret' category by Michael Sean Winters At a time when our politics is so polarized, the need to present Catholic social teaching as pre-political has never been greater, writes NCR columnist Michael Sean Winters.    What's happening in other climate news: 'Entire timetable at risk': Rich countries' squabbling undermines historic climate deal —Zia Weise and Sara Schonhardt for Politico You're probably underestimating the willingness of your fellow citizens to act on climate —Sarah DeWeerdt for Anthropocene Switching to EVs and clean power would save infant lives, help millions of kids breathe easier: Report —Lauren Irwin for The Hill Supreme Court seems skeptical of EPA's 'good neighbor' rule on power plant pollution —Matthew Daly for The Associated Press   Final Beat: We recently refreshed the look of the EarthBeat Daily newsletter. If you don't want to wait until Friday to receive all of EarthBeat's recent headlines in your inbox, sign up here to receive them each day when they are published. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr     Featured Advertisers   Bergoglio Lecture Series Featuring Archbishop Bernardito Auza - February 28 at 2 p.m. ET sacredheart.edu/bergoglio Intelligent, faithful, up-close Scripture interpretation in video format from a teacher and author with nearly four decades of experience.   Advertisement