Letter: Stewardship of Earth is important to people of faith
Stewardship of Earth is a timely topic for discussion during Earth Month (April), especially in the church. Why is it of importance to people of faith? For Christians, Muslims, Jews, and so on, we are directed to protect the poor and vulnerable. We recognize the connection between care of the environment and social justice.
The most globally impactful social justice issue is the impending climate crisis. According to a recent NY Times article, ice in the Antarctic is expected to melt more quickly, doubling the sea level rise from three feet (the worst-case scenario by a United Nations panel) to six feet. And it will happen during the lifetime of our children.
The Vatican has relayed urgency, calling for all people to “Reduce worldwide carbon dioxide emissions without delay using all means possible.” The cost of doing this “pales in comparison to the price the world will pay if we fail to act now … if we destroy creation, creation will destroy us.”
Putting a price on carbon is one solution. Denying the problem and doing nothing is unethical. “As we treat the gift [Earth], so we treat the giver [God].” Please invite me for further discussion with your church group.
Lora Rathbone, Richland
This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 8:11 PM with the headline "Letter: Stewardship of Earth is important to people of faith."