Catholic Principles and Environmental Policy – A Statement from Washington State’s Bishops

On October 4, 2018, Washington state’s Catholic bishops urged voters to consider environmental policy through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, emphasizing both care for creation and protection of the poor and vulnerable. Drawing on decades of Church teaching, including Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, the bishops affirmed the need for meaningful action on climate change while cautioning that environmental policies should respect human dignity, include the voices of low-income communities, and support workers affected by economic transitions. Although they took no position for or against Initiative 1631, they encouraged prayerful discernment and called on all Washington residents to pursue effective ways to protect the common good and care for God’s creation.

Read the full WSCC Statement, Catholic Principles and Environmental Policy – A Statement from Washington State’s Bishops:

English: Catholic Principles and Environmental Policy – A Statement from Washington State’s Bishops

Further links to Church statements on caring for God’s creation.  

• Pope Paul VI, Visit of Pope Paul VI to the FAO on the 25th Anniversary of its Institution (no. 4, 1970)

• St. John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message: Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation (no. 15, 1990)

• Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate: In Charity and Truth (no. 48-51, 2009)

• Pope Francis, Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home (no. 26, 2015)

• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue Prudence and the Common Good (USCCB, 2001)

• The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good (2001)

• Who Is My Neighbor? – The Face of Poverty in Washington State (2016)

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