EPA plans to roll back pollution limits are 'morally depraved,' 'evil,' say faith groups

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March 21, 2025

A man rides a bike with his dog in a backpack as the Palisades fire burns during a weather-driven windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles Jan. 7. Fueled by the wind, wildfires tore across the Los Angeles area with devastating force Jan. 8. (OSV News/Reuters/Ringo Chiu)

In a statement March 12, Lee Zeldin, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, referred to a desire to protect the environment as "the climate change religion," and indicated he would like to kill it.

"Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S. and more," he said in a statement.

The comment undermines science and mocks religion, said faith groups, calling it offensive, nonsensical and ignorant. Furthermore, faith leaders called the sweeping deregulatory plans for air and water pollution "morally depraved" and "evil," because if enacted, they will allow more toxins into our air and water. The variety of pollutants targeted under the EPA rules Zeldin seeks to roll back are known to threaten public health, especially for populations that are already vulnerable.

"The reality is: many additional lives will be lost to increased soot pollution and other toxins," said Archbishop John Wester of Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose archdiocese includes Bernalillo County, which received an "F" grade for soot and smog pollution in the latest "State of the Air" report by the American Lung Association.

Leaders from Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish and other faith groups agreed that the threat to life posed by the potential rollback of environmental regulations is alarming, and requires faith leaders and communities to speak out.

An NCR editorial published Wednesday addressed the Trump administration's deregulation plans at EPA, saying, "President Donald Trump's promotion of fossil fuels and his dismantling of essential environmental safeguards represent perhaps the gravest and most consequential failure of his time in office."

"Trump has called himself the most 'pro-life president ever,' yet the administration's environmental agenda embodies a profound moral failure — a choice fundamentally opposed to life itself," NCR said. "Trump's legacy is the intentional sacrifice of today's marginalized communities and future generations for temporary economic gain."

What else is new on EarthBeat:

Laudato Si' inspires multimedia art exhibit at Jesuit Fairfield University

by Chris Herlinger

Artists Athena LaTocha, Mary Mattingly and Tyler Rai come from different religious and cultural backgrounds and bring differing approaches to the exhibit "To See This Place: Awakening to Our Common Home."

Priests, nuns join protest to Indonesia's geothermal project

by UCA News Reporter

Catholic priests and nuns joined hundreds of activists demanding to stop a geothermal project on the predominantly Catholic Flores island in Indonesia, saying the project violates villagers' land rights and damages the environment.

Lenten food 'doesn't mean boring,' says Catholic chef

by Gina Christian, OSV News

Discipline and deliciousness aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, said certified executive chef Jim Churches, president of the American Culinary Federation's Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association and a member of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan.

NCR recipes for Lent: Cacio e pepe

by John Grosso

NCR digital editor John Grosso shares a favorite meatless meal for Lent: cacio e pepe, one of the "four horsemen" of Roman pasta. Three ingredients and 30 minutes make for a unique, delicious challenge.

What's happening in other climate news:

Greenpeace must pay at least $660m over Dakota pipeline protests, says jury —Rachel Leingang and Nina Lakhani for The Guardian

Trump administration aims to eliminate E.P.A.'s scientific research arm —Lisa Friedman for The New York Times

The end of the EPA's fight to protect overpolluted communities —Lylla Younes for Grist

There is nothing RFK Jr. can do at the Department of Health to make up for what's happening at the EPA. —Emily Atkin for HEATED

Interior to open millions of acres in Alaska to drilling and mining —Jake Spring for the Washington Post

What does Tesla's slide mean for the US electric vehicle market? —Dan Gearino for Inside Climate News

Farmers feeling the pain after conservation funding frozen —Juliet Grable reports for Sierra magazine

Trekking the blue ice of Perito Moreno in Argentina as world marks inaugural World Glacier Day —Sara España for the Associated Press

Final Beat:

This week, I had the delight of speaking with undergraduate students in a class about Catholic social teaching at Loyola University Chicago. We discussed Laudato Si' and integral ecology, dominion vs. stewardship when it comes to caring for the Earth, what Catholics are called to do in the face of climate change, and the various relationships among God, humans and the rest of the created world.

One age-old question they asked me regarding the interconnectedness and goodness of all things created by God was, "Do dogs go to heaven?" In short, I told them the official church line on this is no, they don't. But I don't think it's wrong to say that which comes from God, returns to God.

It's a query that hits particularly close to home, since our golden retriever Finnegan suddenly died last fall and I've had to explain to my young children over and over again where Finn is now and if he's happy. (There are a few books that have been helpful, if you need a recommendation, let me know!) My boys are ages 6, 4 and 2, so they aren't looking for a lesson in eschatology. They miss their dog and want to know if he's okay. So when they ask "Where's Finn?" I simply say, "He's with God." And I think that's an answer in which we can all take comfort.

While it might not be the official response of the church, Catholic sister and theologian Elizabeth Johnson says it's an idea that comes straight from Scripture. Read more in NCR senior correspondent Heidi Schlumpf's 2024 story: Saving the Earth requires new images of God, says feminist theologian Elizabeth Johnson

Thanks for reading EarthBeat.

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