Faith community voices for protecting our home, health

EarthBeat Weekly
Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change

September 26, 2025

Representatives of Catholic and other faith organizations delivered boxes of public comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sept. 17 in Washington, D.C. (FranciscanAction Network/Robert Christian)

Many people of faith oppose the Trump administration's plans to deregulate environmental protections, including its attempt to revoke the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2009 "endangerment finding."

In the "endangerment finding," EPA determined through scientific review that greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to public health and welfare. Greenhouse gas emissions, released primarily from burning coal, oil and gas, are also the leading contributor to climate change. They trap heat in the atmosphere and raise the temperature of the Earth.

Here's what some faith leaders had to say on the matter, in comments filed ahead of the Monday (Sept. 22) deadline for public comments on EPA's proposed reversal:

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
"Our concerns with the Reconsideration are founded on the Catholic Church's commitment to environmental justice and care for creation, as it is an integral component of Catholic faith."

Archbishop Thomas Zinkula of Dubuque, Iowa
"Strong [pollution] standards save lives. … They prevent billions of tons of climate pollution, reduce smog and soot, and mean fewer cases of asthma and premature death. Families save thousands of dollars on fuel and healthcare costs. These protections are good for people and good for God's creation."

Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Dayenu founder and CEO
"Repealing the [Endangerment] Finding is like tossing out the Ten Commandments."

Black church leaders
"The cost of this decision by the EPA will be paid for in human lives — and Black bodies will bear the brunt of the burden."

What else is new on EarthBeat:

Maryknoll webinar on Brazil's climate summit calls for church's voice at COP30

by Marietha Góngora V., OSV News

With the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference, or COP30, set for November in Belém, Brazil, Catholic leaders are raising their voices ahead of the global climate summit.

Philippine clergy support massive anti-corruption protests in Manila

by Simone Orendain, OSV News

Clergy and religious along with lay Catholic faithful came out in droves at an anti-corruption rally in the Philippines capital of Manila Sept. 21 that drew tens of thousands of protesters.

GSR Africa correspondent wins Covering Climate Now journalism honor

by GSR Staff

Doreen Ajiambo, Global Sisters Report's Africa regional correspondent, has been honored for her reporting during last year's United Nations climate summit, or COP29.

What's happening in other climate news:

In front of drowning nations, Trump calls climate change a 'con job.' Here are the facts and context —Melina Walling and Seth Borenstein for the Associated Press

Hard-fought treaty to protect ocean life clears a final hurdle —Max Bearak for The New York Times

Can the latest youth climate case win where others have failed? —Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan for Inside Climate News

In a single email, the EPA ended her research into how climate change endangers children —Jessica Kutz for The 19th*

'I worry about the future of my daughter': the 'silent majority' who care about the climate crisis —Danielle Renwick for the Guardian

Final Beat:

In my very first EarthBeat Weekly newsletter message, I wrote about how Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' is not just about the environment, but also about how we relate to each other, to non-human creation and to God; what happens when those relationships rupture; and what is possible when we get those relationships right.

Our call to care for creation, I said at the time, has just as much to do with connection and community as it does with decreasing our carbon footprint. I think that's even truer today than it was a few years ago.

It is with mixed emotions that I share today is my last day as NCR environment editor. This has been incredibly meaningful and rewarding work — in no small part due to connecting with all of you. While I'm sad to leave the EarthBeat team, I look forward to contributing in new and different ways to conversations on integral ecology, environmental justice and care for our common home.

It has been a great privilege to share this space with you the past few years. Thank you for welcoming me into the EarthBeat community and for supporting NCR's coverage at the intersection of faith, climate and environmental justice.

This newsletter will be paused next week as NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe travels to Italy to attend the Raising Hope Conference for the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si'. Be sure to check ncronline.org/earthbeat for coverage of that event and more.

And as always, thanks for reading EarthBeat.

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