Clergy Calls for Climate Action

By: Tyler Suiters, Published: 02/12/10 5:05pm

This weekend hundreds of U.S. religious leaders will take part in the National Preach-In, to explain to their congregations why they believe there's a need to take action against climate change.

"We now know a carbon economy and an oil-and-coal basis for energy policy is killing us and the earth," said Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb of the Abat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda, MD.

Interfaith Power and Light is coordinating the national campaign in part to urge the U.S. Senate to move quickly on climate legislation.

"When did caring for God's handiwork become politicized," asked Rabbi Scherlinger Dobb in an interview with Clean Skies News. "It's shameful and religiously problematic that it has become politicized. There are ethical and human and creation-level impacts to the political discourse."

After services, some congregations will send valentines to their senators urging them to, "Love the Earth".

"As people of faith, we have a sacred duty to love our neighbor by caring for creation," said The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, an Episcopal priest and president of Interfaith Power and Light.

Interfaith Power and Light has affiliates in 31 states and reaches 10,000 congregations.