Beginning with their 1991 pastoral statement, Renewing The Earth, the U.S. Catholic bishops have identified creation care and climate change as moral issues for all people of faith and goodwill. In particular, the bishops recognize that environmental degradation disproportionately harms the poor and marginalized who are often least responsible for its causes.
In their 2001 statement, Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good, the U.S. Bishops acknowledge the Church's responsibility to promote solutions to climate change and renewed the Catholic moral call to care for creation, ecology, and the poor.
In addition, a number of state Catholic conferences, dioceses, and individual bishops have made their own statements, lending their support and commitment to care for creation.
State Catholic Conference Statements:
Embracing Laudato Si’, Statement of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (September 2019)
God Calls Us All to Care for Our Common Home, Statement of the California Catholic Conference (June 2019)
Minnesota, Our Common Home, Statement of the Minnesota Catholic Conference (June 2019)
Catholic Principles and Environmental Policy, Washington State Catholic Conference (October 2018)
Diocesan Statement:
Laudato Si’ Action Plan For The Archdiocese of Atlanta April 2019
Bishop's Statement:
It is good: Bishop Coyne’s message for the Season of Creation, Bishop Christopher Coyne, Diocese of Burlington Vermont (September 2019)
