Last week, Pope Francis released the long-awaited papal encyclical on the environment. In response, PC(USA) Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons posted this affirmation of Pope Francis’ message.
http://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/6/18/presbyterian-church-us-welcomes-papal-encyclical/
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) welcomes the release of Pope Francis’ papal encyclical Laudato Sii
June 18, 2015
We celebrate the faithful witness and words of Pope Francis today as he encourages responsible, loving care for God’s creation in the release of his papal encyclical Laudato Sii. We affirm its echo of the great St. Francis’ reverence for nature. At the same time, we join the Pope in the urgency of truth-telling: we humans are largely responsible for global warming and we have to find ways to reverse track. The Pope is calling us all to environmental conversion: may we together find the immense moral and spiritual energy that the world powers have been lacking so far.
This is a great day to remember our call to protect the earth and to care for brothers and sisters around the world. Indeed we praise God for ongoing reminders of our human vocation as stewards of God’s good earth. We cannot separate the health of people from the health of the whole creation.
In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we are greatly concerned about environmental degradation. Climate disruption in particular is a threat to this and future generations and to God’s creation….
Continue reading PCUSA statement on papal encyclical