Rev. Jim Wallis President and CEO Sojourners Washington, DC

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Ralf Ryan
5 years ago
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1 As Catholic and evangelical leaders, we are deeply inspired by Pope Francis recent encyclical that draws attention to the shared responsibility we have to be prudent stewards of creation. We are clergy, university presidents, women religious, theologians and advocates committed to redoubling our efforts in confronting a crisis that disproportionately impacts the poor and most vulnerable. Pope Francis has issued a bold call to action, and the clock is ticking on a challenge that requires a collective effort in service of the global common good. As citizens of the most powerful nation in human history, we have a unique responsibility to promote sustainable development, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and build a thriving culture of life that protects human dignity. At their core, climate change and air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels are pro-life issues. The toxic pollution released from coal-fired plants and chemicals spewing into rivers and oceans present especially grave risks for life in the womb, young children and the elderly. The costs of delay are unacceptable. As Pope Francis wrote: There is an urgent need to develop policies so that in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced. We urge elected officials to reflect on the pope s words and recognize that climate change, poverty and extreme inequality interconnected issues that can t be understood in isolation are defining challenges of our day. In a spirit of solidarity, we encourage presidential candidates, members of Congress and governors who have raised doubts about the seriousness of climate change to consider the moral dimensions of this issue and the urgent need for action. Pope Francis is not alone in calling for a response. Catholic bishops and diverse faith-based organizations have long been at the forefront of advocating for prudent action. Evangelical leaders issued An Evangelical Call to Action in 2006 stating: Christians must care about climate change because we are called to love our neighbors, do unto others as we would have them do unto us, and protect and care for the least of these as though each was Jesus Christ himself. Pope John Paul II warned in 1990 that the greenhouse effect had reached crisis proportions. Pope Benedict XVI asked in 2010: Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers? Inspired by the actions and words of Pope Francis, we are hopeful that politicians in our country will take a closer look at this profound moral issue and show the world that we can lead by example. In Faith,

2 Rev. Jim Wallis and CEO Sojourners Sr. Simone Campbell NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby Bishop William Skylstad (Retired) Former U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Spokane, WA Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza (Retired) Former U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Galveston-Houston Miguel H. Diaz, Ph.D. Ambassador to the Holy See, Ret., The John Courtney Murray University Chair in Public Service Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Michael Galligan-Stierle Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Dan Misleh Catholic Climate Covenant Daniel Curran, Ph.D. University of Dayton Dayton, OH Rev. Mitchell Hescox and CEO Evangelical Environmental Network

3 Dr. Al Tizon Co- Evangelicals for Social Action King of Prussia, PA Rev. Carlos Malave Christian Churches Together Louisville, KY Timothy Collins, Retired, Catholic Campaign for Human Development U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Arlington, VA Walter Grazer Former Manager, Environmental Justice Program U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Sharon Holland, IHM Leadership Conference of Women Religious Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter Senior Pastor Northland - A Church Distributed Longwood, FL Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A. Villanova University Villanova, PA Rev. Clete Kiley Director of Immigration Policy Unite Here

4 Patrick Carolan Franciscan Action Network Rev. William Kelley, SJ Secretary for Social and International Ministries Jesuit Conference of Canada and the Untied States Rev. Stan Mitchell Senior Pastor GracePointe Church Franklin, TN Dr. Ronald J Sider Emeritus Evangelicals for Social Action St. Davids, PA Dr. Tony Campolo Professor Emeritus Campolo Center for Ministry St. Davids, PA Dr. Brian D. McLaren Convergence Marco Island, FL Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA Stephen A. Privett, SJ Chancellor University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA John Inglis Chair and Professor of Philosophy University of Dayton Dayton, OH

5 Richard Cizik New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good Fredericksburg, VA Pat McDermott, RSM, Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Rev. Bernard F. O'Connor, OSFS DeSales University Center Valley, PA Christine M. Wiseman Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL Christopher G. Kerr Ignatian Solidarity Network John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J. Regis University Denver, CO Charles J. Dougherty, Ph.D. Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit Pittsburgh, PA Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, CM DePaul University Chicago, IL Donna M. Carroll Dominican University River Forest, IL

6 John Smarrelli Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN John Gehring Catholic Program Director Faith in Public Life Kristyn Komarnicki Director of Communications Evangelicals for Social Action Philadelphia, PA Drew Christiansen, S. J. Distingished Professor Georgetown University Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Sr. Anne Munley Marywood University Scranton, PA David Hollenbach, S.J. University Chair in Human Rights and International Justice Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Ronald Pagnucco Associate Professor College of St Benedict/St. Johjn's University St. Joseph, MN Alex Mikulich Research Fellow Jesuit Social Research Institute, Loyola University New Orleans, LA

7 Dr. Dermot Lane Mater Dei Institute of Education Dublin, Ireland Candace Introcaso, CDP La Roche College Pittsburgh, PA Mary Meehan Alverno College Milwaukee, WI Jonathan Merritt Columnist, Religion News Service Brooklyn, NY J. Chris Bradbrrry Interim Creighton University Omaha, NE Fr. John A. Coleman S.J. University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA John Sniegocki Associate Professor of Christian Ethics Xavier University Cincinnati, OH Dr. Scot McKnight Northern Seminary Lombard, IL Tobias Winright Maeder Endowed Chair of Health Care Ethics Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO David Livingston Lourdes University Sylvania, OH

8 Paul Alexander, PhD Professor Palmer Theological Seminary Philadelphia, PA Donna Carroll Dominican University River Forest, IL Donald B. Taylor, Ph.D. Cabrini College Radnor, PA Dr. David Fitch BR Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology Northern Seminary Lombard, IL Brandan Robertson Founder & Director The Revangelical Movement Dr. Peter Enns Professor of Biblical Studies Eastern University St. Davids, PA Eugene J. Cornacchia Saint Peter's University Jersey City, NJ David O'Brien Professor of Catholic Studies Emeritus College of the Holy Cross Jefferson, MA Nancy Sylvester, IHM Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue Detroit, MI

9 Anthony Annett Climate Change and Sustainable Development Advisor Earth Institute, Columbia University New York, NY Moya K Dittmeier Conference for Mercy Higher Education Kathleen Owens Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, PA Anne Curtis, RSM Leadership Team Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Deborah Troillett, RSM Leadership Team Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Eileen Campbell, RSM Leadership Team Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Mary Pat Garvin, RSM Leadership Team Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Robert Hemberger Catholic Priest Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Kansas Wichita, KS Fr. John E. Hurley, CSP Consultant New Evangelization Strategies San Francisco, CA

10 Fr. Lawrence E Mick Archdiocese of Cincinnati Dayton, OH Rev. John Becker Pastor Holy Cross & St. Anne Mishicot, WI Fr. Vincent Louwagie Director: Ministry to Ministers Sabbatical Program Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate San Antonio, TX Rev. Gregory J Mayers, CSSR Director East/West Meditation The Redemptorists/Denver Province Burlingame, CA Fr. John Monestero St.Justin Martyr Catholic Church Anaheim, CA Rev. Thomas Marti Maryknoll Society Seattle, WA Fr. Warren J. Savage Albert and Amelia Interfaith Center Westfield, MA Rev. Louis Tylka St. Julie Billiart Parish Tinley Park, IL Fr. Michael A. Boccaccio St. Philip Church New Haven, CT Rev. William G. Menzel (Ret.) Wisconsin Rapids, WI

11 Donald Senior, C.P. Emeritus Catholic Theological Union Chicago, IL Rev. Edwin Gearhart St Teresa of the Child Jesus Church Springfield, OH Dr. Richard Mouw Professor of Faith and Public Life Institute of Faith and Public Life Pasadena, CA Rev. Charles T. Durante Carson City, NV Fr. Duane Pribula Priest/chaplain Diocese of Crookston, MN Fargo, ND Dr. Walter Brueggemann Professor Emeritus Columbia Theological Seminary Cincinnati, OH Dr. Noah J. Toly Director of the Center for Urban Engagement and Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Laura Truax Senior Pastor LaSalle Street Church Chicago, IL Joseph E. Nyre Iona College New Rochelle, NY

12 Thomas J. Gamble Mercyhurst University Erie, PA Jason Caniglia Vice for Advancement Regis University Denver, CO Christopher J. Hale Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

Margaret M. McGuinness

Margaret M. McGuinness 32 Wood Lane Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 (610) 647-8550 (h) (610) 902-8331 (w) e-mail: mcguinness@lasalle.edu Education A.B. 1975 American History and Civilization Boston University,