Religious leaders speak out against coal and global warming
By: joshtulkin
Published On: 3/10/2008 4:35:49 PM
Adding their voice to the debate, sixty religious leaders in Virginia sent a letter to Governor Kaine this morning urging him to re-consider his support for the proposed Wise County Power Plant. The AP reported... The spiritual leaders say in the letter to Kaine that speaking out against the coal-fired plant is their moral responsibility as part of their "good stewardship of God's creation.
The letter focused specifically on the disproportionate impact pollution will have on the poorest in the community, something they hope will gain Governor Kaine's attention. Referring to the impacts of mountaintop removal, the letter says ...Those who suffer the most from toxins in their water supply and weakened foundations for their homes are the very people whom we have been instructed to protect: the least among us. We do not want our energy to come from these immoral and destructive practices.
This letter was unveiled just hours after a prominent members of the Southern Baptist Convention announced strong new support for climate legislation.
[UPDATE by The Grey Havens]: Perhaps not coincidentally, the Vatican today added pollution to its list of mortal sins, along with genetic manipulation, drugs, and broad causes of social injustice:
Father Antonio Pelayo, a Spanish priest and Vatican expert noted that it is time for both sinners and confessors to get over their obsession with sex and think about other ways humans hurt each other in the world in which they live.
"There are many other sins that are perhaps much more grave that don't have anything to do with sex - that have to do with life, that have to do with the environment, that have to do with justice," he told AP Television.
We don't expect any legislator to act as a proxy for church leaders, but there is something at work here and legislators need to take issues of faith into consideration.
Comments
wouldn't it be wonderful (Alter of Freedom - 3/10/2008 8:06:12 PM)
if this issue and the whole environmental debate creates an atmosphere of real understanding, the kind that politics always seems to prevent , where people from all walks come together to see the greater good in this entire issue. Evangelicals take it on the chin all too often throughout this country by being linked to so-called far right conservatives when on lots of issues they seem to be moving more and more to the center. Maybe its on the non-social issues but progress is progress and I for one am glad to see the issue moving its way up the priority chain of lots of conservatives who are seeing that the policies of the past of it being a regulatory issue are losing the stickability to the issue they once held to many conservatives. Its time everyone regardless of Party hold its leadership accountability to real focused change in this area.
This is awkward (TheGreenMiles - 3/10/2008 9:28:09 PM)
I've agreed with citizenindy, tx2vadem, and now AoF today. Has the world gone topsy-turvy?
The first conservationist was Teddy Roosevelt. If the GOP got back to those roots, they'd pry away a lot more independents. Or more accurately, ANY independents.
So on that note, I say to Republicans - keep demagoguing immigrants and abortions! I say play out the string!
Wonder Who will put the Conserve back into Conservative (rhkennerly - 3/11/2008 7:39:33 AM)
Where's Teddy Roosevelt when you (Lowell - 3/11/2008 7:40:04 AM)
need him.
And don't forget.... (Doug in Mount Vernon - 3/11/2008 12:24:44 PM)
....PRESERVATION too!
Burn Coal... Burn in Hell (The Grey Havens - 3/10/2008 8:28:32 PM)
Rough translation, but... you get the idea.
Hooray for Father Creedon! (perkinsms - 3/11/2008 2:02:11 AM)
On the left in the photo is Fr. Gerry Creedon, pastor at St. Charles Borromeo church. I'm so glad that our pastor is part of this effort.
Kaine's Legacy (heywaitaminute - 3/11/2008 4:46:39 AM)
Sen Obama took a brave stand against the war when few would do so, Gov Kaine can be Virginia's first governor to stand up to power and coal companies or he can be like the rest, it is his call and his legacy. My money is on the status quo prevailing.
Don't be so sure (Shenandoah Democrat - 3/11/2008 1:51:43 PM)
One advantage that active environmentalists are bringing to bear is the power of the net and with pictures like these being circulated-
http://www.chesapeakeclimate.o...
Time Kaine will have to respond.
This would appear to be the makings of a "Coal-gate".(hehe)
As much as I want to like the guy, I'm real disappointed in our governor's embrace of the status quo lobbying/corporate establishment in Richmond. WTF is he doing going off to a Final Four game at Dominion's expense? He needs to get educated on renewables, climate change, demand side management, and energy efficiency. Start by inviting Amory Lovins to lunch.
http://www.rockymountainnews.c...
His ignorance is really inexcusable.