The church leaders who are taking the pope's climate message seriously

Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change

May 3, 2024

Sr. Susan Francois speaks April 22 in New York at a hearing held by environmental leaders to examine Citigroup's record on environmental racism. (Courtesy of The Sunrise Project)

Following the news April 23 that the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, would be the first diocese in the United States to commit to net-zero emissions across its parishes, schools and other institutions, the NCR editorial staff applauded that nearly a decade since the release of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home," some U.S. church leadership finally seems to be taking the pope's climate message seriously.

The announcement from the Lexington Diocese comes after two other notable actions from U.S. dioceses earlier this year: that the Archdiocese of Chicago would begin to power its parishes and schools with 100% renewable energy and that the Diocese of San Diego was the first diocese in the U.S. to publicly announce it has divested from fossil fuels.

As the editorial writers state, "These are measurable, long-term and large-scale systemic changes." Indeed, this is what the pope and others — including Creighton University professor Daniel DiLeo and Christiana Figueres, the former United Nations climate official who brokered the Paris Agreement — have been urging. This is good news.

And yet, there are other church leaders who for years already have been responding to the urgency of the climate crisis with the type of integral approach Pope Francis has endorsed. When it comes to care for creation, one can't help but think about the efforts of Catholic sisters who have long been championing the cause.

One such example from this past week is the Citigroup shareholder advocacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, who for the third year in a row have challenged one of the largest investment banks in the world to assess their policies on climate, sustainability and human rights, particularly as they apply to Indigenous people and their land.

Global Sisters Report national correspondent Dan Stockman reported that this year the sisters' shareholder resolution won 26% support at Citigroup's annual meeting. Last year, the resolution drew 31% support, and the year prior it received 33% support.

"For three years in a row support from investors for our resolution has remained steady at Citi. This is a clear message to the bank that human rights violations are bad for business," said Assistant Congregation Leader Sr. Susan Francois in a statement after the vote.

What else is new on Earthbeat:

The Vatican should do more to influence UN climate action

by Griffin Thompson

Paris Agreement pledges alone won't reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Vatican can respond with an initiative based on the work of the Laudato Si' Action Platform and the competencies of Catholic universities.

Pittsburgh parish creation care group hosts Earth Day fair

by Theresa Doerfler

St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish houses the Diocese of Pittsburgh's only care for creation group. Its resources fair April 27 explored ways people can live more in line with Laudato Si'.

Kenyan archbishop appeals for humanitarian aid as floods devastate the country

by Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News

Amid severe floods in Kenya, rescue operations were continuing April 29 as the death toll surpassed 120 people due to excessive rains and floods linked to the continuing El Nino phenomenon in East Africa. Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri appealed for humanitarian support to aid thousands of displaced people.

What's happening in other climate news:

Big Oil hearing: Dems make their case against the industry —Emma Dumain for E&E News

Countries consider pact to reduce plastic production by 40% in 15 years —Sandra Laville for The Guardian

This New Biden Rule Will Save Americans $2 Billion On Utility Bills —Alexander C. Kaufman for Huffpost

The world agreed to create a climate reparations fund. Now comes the hard part. —Naveena Sadasivam for Grist

Pontifical charity provides solar panels to Church in Syria and Lebanon —Joseph Tulloch for Vatican News

What does family planning look like in a warming world? — Mark Harris for Anthropocene

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Stephanie Clary
Environment Editor
National Catholic Reporter
sclary@ncronline.org
Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr