Dear First Name,
No sugar coating it folks: the Trump administration is systematically dismantling critically important programs and processes that take aim at the poor and future generation: EPA’s budget cut 31%; agencies no longer required to take climate change into account in their planning; rolling back the Clean Power Plan. The list goes on.
At the same time, the Covenant, our institutional partners, and many of you are stepping into the fray and directly challenging these assaults. But our efforts rely on your gifts. Please see our appeal below, and if you have not given this Lent, now is the time. There is simply too much at stake.
In prayer this week, I came across this reflection from St. Bonaventure: God is “within all things but not enclosed; outside all things, but not excluded; above all things, but not aloof; below all things, but not debased.” What would our world look like if our political leaders took this to heart?
In gratitude,
Dan Misleh
Founding Executive Director
Participate in Our Lenten Appeal
As you may know, we are in the midst of our Lenten Appeal. If you have already donated, thank you. Our critically important work is dependent on the generosity of supporters like you. As Dan said above, without your financial help, our Catholic mobilization efforts are hampered and our unified Catholic voice is diminished.
Please consider a tax-deductible gift at this time. A gift of any amount is highly appreciated.
AMAZON SMILE: If you shop through Amazon, please know that you can help the Covenant each time you shop by going through this AmazonSmile link. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Catholic Climate Covenant.
Action of the Month:
Encourage Your Representative to Join the Bi-partisan Climate Solutions Caucus
Together, we have a chance to end the partisanship and lack of dialogue on climate change within the US Congress. In February, Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) founded the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus to serve “as an organization to educate members on economically-viable options to reduce climate risk and protect our common home.” The Caucus’ membership is equally balanced between Republicans and Democrats and meets regularly to advance climate solutions and issues that affect our health, the economy, national security, the poor and vulnerable, and our future. This is a hopeful action that deserves our full support!
Please write your representative and encourage him/her to join the Climate Solutions Caucus.
Faithful Action On Climate Change
Earth Day
The Earth Day Program Guide has been downloaded by over 1130 people! Will your parish, school, or religious community be celebrating Earth Day? This year’s program will guide your community through a one-hour, spiritually rich, and awareness-raising activity. Download the program and share with your pastor, principal, youth minister, and whoever leads educational efforts in your community.
The People’s Climate March
On April 29th, Catholics will join our sisters and brothers on the streets and call for climate justice at the People’s Climate March. Will you march with us?
Join us in DC: We encourage you to sign up here if you plan on marching in Washington, DC. Catholics will gather at 9 am at St. Dominic Church to celebrate mass before the march. For details on the mass go here. The exact rallying point and march route are still being determined. Be on the look-out for that information on the People’s Climate March webpage.
Transportation: Need help getting to the march? Go here for more information.
Interested in More Events? A “Faith Contingent” is planning even more activities in addition to what the Covenant and our partners are planning. If you’d like more information on that, please go here.
Hospitality: The Stuart Center in Washington, DC, is hosting hospitality events for Catholic marchers. Please email the Center here for more information.
Sister Marches: For those who cannot attend the march in Washington, DC, you are invited to join a sister march in your local area or start a sister march of your own. More information on that can be found here.
Advocacy Training: Learn how to meet and communicate effectively with your legislator! Attend our free lobby day training the day before the march, Friday, April 28th starting at 9:00 am. Afterward, go meet with your members of Congress. The training is just a few blocks away from the Capitol. For more details on the training and to RSVP, please go here.
Online Advocacy Webinar: For those who cannot attend the in-person training, we will be offering a lobby training webinar on April 20th at 2:00 pm (eastern). Register for the webinar here.
Covenant, Congressional and Executive Actions on Climate
This past month has been full of climate-related action in Congress and by the administration. On March 15th, 17 House Republicans joined 17 House Democrats to introduce the Stefanik resolution that recognizes the adverse impacts that the changing climate is having on our nation’s health, environment, economy, and security. The resolution also commits the House to work constructively towards climate solutions.
On March 15th—with ads in The Hill newspaper and Crux—Catholic Climate Covenant released a 15,000-signature petition, asking that the Trump administration honor the Paris Agreement, contribute to the Green Climate Fund, and implement the Clean Power Plan. Shortly after President Trump signed an executive order rolling back the Clean Power Plan and other climate related actions, the Covenant responded with a strong statement saying that the order neither protects our common home nor promotes the common good. To read more about the statement and other advocacy actions go here.
Catholics Leading the Way
Diocese of Burlington’s Year of Creation: The Spring issue of Vermont Catholichighlights the Diocese of Burlington’s year-long focus on creation which urges Vermont Catholics to reflect upon the pope's encyclical, "Laudato Si'," and to discover Christ in all living things. The magazine is full of helpful ideas and articles for all looking to live more sustainably and faithfully.
Children Lead the Way: Students at Ascension in Oak Park, Chicago are truly leading the way with their Lenten project. Students, and their families, consciously choose to lower their carbon use and donate the savings in energy to charity. Ascension parish donates about $10,000 a year through their energy savings!
Carmelite Curriculum Now Available: We are excited to share the newly released Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Secondary Schools from the Carmelites. Integrating spirituality, theology, science, humanities, and social studies, the curriculum guides students into ecological awareness and spiritual growth.
New York' St. Patrick's Cathedral Goes Green! The multi-year and multimillion dollar restoration of St. Patrick’s Cathedral is now complete. As part of the restoration, the Board of Trustees decided to install a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling plant which reduces the cathedral’s carbon dioxide emissions and increases energy efficiency by 35 percent!
From Covenant Partner: The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
On March 1, religious communities welcomed members of REPAM, a network of indigenous communities and Catholic church organizations created to respond to the challenges facing the people of the Amazon and their environment. Throughout the Amazon, these communities are threatened and displaced by extractive industries and by monoculture farming. While in DC, we learned about these impacts, the ecological importance of the Amazon, and the need to stand in solidarity with this region.
The delegation testified and met with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the State Department, Members of Congress, U.S. Agency for International Development, academic institutions, and religious & secular organizations. Their visit reminds us of the words of Pope Francis’ words in Laudato Si’: “Our goal is not to amass information, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.” For more information about REPAM and the importance of the Amazon, click here.