Bishop urges Iowans to speak to presidential candidates about environment
July 08, 2015
Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines has called upon the Catholics of Iowa-- the site of the influential presidential caucuses-- to speak to presidential candidates about the environment.
“I invite all Catholics in Iowa to talk with their local, state and national leaders, urging them to exercise leadership in protecting the earth,” he said in a statement. “We will have presidential candidates visiting our state regularly in the coming months. We have a unique opportunity to keep climate change on the front burner.”
“With presidential candidates already visiting us regularly, I encourage Catholics across our state, and all people of good will, to talk to them and ask not if, but how, they plan to work toward solutions to climate change,” he added in a Des Moines Register column.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Religious leaders want presidential candidates to back Pope on climate change (Radio Iowa)
- Catholic Leaders Press GOP To Heed Pope On Climate, Poor (AP)
- Column: Candidates should show honesty, courage on climate change (Des Moines Register)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: unum -
Jul. 08, 2015 6:44 PM ET USA
Hmmm! So the bishop is asking Catholics to lobby politicians on climate change, but doesn't mention the First Amendment problems with freedom of religion our Church is having with the government. The Des Moines Church sure has a strange sense of priorities regarding moral issues!
-
Posted by: shrink -
Jul. 08, 2015 8:32 AM ET USA
Speaking of the environment, I was hoping that someone within the Church would ask our politicians about the morality of burning food. Francis does not mention it in LS. I suspect that a bishop of Iowa would find it more difficult to challenge the biofuel lobby of his state than, say, excommunicate everyone who takes the Pill. Of course, I have a sneaking suspicion that Pates rather supports biofuel, thinking that it is "green", and, not incidentally, helps with the weekly collections.
