Religious force for change represents millions
WASHINGTON, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented show of unity
amidst worldwide discord, Muslims, Christians and Jewish religious leaders
today announced a pact to fight global warming together for the sake of
creation.
Their joint statement, delivered to the White House and Congressional
leadership, calls for immediate action including mandatory limits on
greenhouse gas emissions. "An Interfaith Declaration on the Moral
Responsibility of the U.S. Government to Address Global Warming" comes on
the heels of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's most recent
report that makes clear the serious risks of delay, noting that without
action emissions could double from current levels by 2030.
(see statement & signers:
http://www.theregenerationproject.org/ )
"This is an historic moment when Jews, Christians and Muslims stand
together in solidarity with a shared sense of moral purpose on global
warming. We accept the overwhelming scientific evidence which forecasts
extreme consequences for the Earth and all its inhabitants if we fail to
act," the statement reads.
The consensus declaration is the result of a high-level climate summit
of top national religious leaders hosted by the Reverend Sally G. Bingham,
President of The Regeneration Project in San Francisco. It is signed by
leaders of the largest religious institutions in America representing
millions of people including the National Council of Churches, the Islamic
Society of North America, the Alliance of Baptists, and the Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism. And the signers represent every region of
the country. The list includes prominent black leaders like the Reverend
Gerald Durley of Atlanta, Evangelical leaders like the Reverend Joel Hunter
of Orlando and Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn, D.D., Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
"These leaders represent millions of the faithful who see beyond their
differences to a common need and goal: protection of life on earth," said
the Reverend Sally Bingham of The Regeneration Project's Interfaith Power &
Light.
The 400-word statement represents the first step in what these leaders
call "an historic effort to pave the way for cultural change in America."
They plan a series of activities: print and online advertisements, meetings
with national legislators and campaigns in individual congregations across
the country. They also plan to enlist thousands of religious leaders across
the country to sign the statement.
The statement cites text from the sacred writings of each Abrahamic
tradition, which reveal a common concern for creation, and a call to serve
and protect the poor and vulnerable.
"The impact of climate change will fall disproportionately on those who
have contributed the least to this problem -- the world's poor," said the
Reverend Joel Hunter." Jesus said, "What you do unto the least of these,
you do to me."
The joint statement says limits on global warming emissions can be
achieved in way that will stimulate the economy, encourage technological
innovation and lift up the poor.
