CSJP Leadership Statement on US Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord

July 11, 2019

The Leadership of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace lament the President’s immoral and short-sighted decision to formally withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord. We join with the Statement from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to encourage all to raise their voices to their federal representatives condemning this action.

What hope should the rest of the global community have when the country most responsible for the increase of carbon in the atmosphere abdicates its moral and global responsibility to assist in the cleanup?

Meeting in Chapter every six years is the highest level of decision making for our congregation. In 2014 we reaffirmed what we committed to do in 2008:

  • deepen our spirituality of peace regarding care of creation

  • identify and reduce our carbon footprint in our communities, ministries and institutions

  • pray, study and act to promote a sustainable lifestyle

  • participate in legislative efforts to support the integrity of creation

  • stand in solidarity and act with justice with marginalized people whose lives are already affected by the devastation of Earth

  • collaborate with others, including interfaith and civic groups, who are addressing climate change.

We do not waiver from these commitments and continue among our institutions, Sisters and Associates efforts to counter the untruths of the climate deniers and hold corporate and political leaders responsible for their well-compensated, yet flawed decision making.

We encourage all to follow and guide others to follow the plans of the Paris Agreement regardless of the official government position. We applaud the states and cities that have already made such commitments.

In addition, we will:

  • continue to educate regarding the truths of climate change

  • emphasize that climate change is a global challenge requiring a global response

  • acknowledge that those with the greatest resources have the greatest responsibilities

  • advocate the return to rules of the Clean Air act and Clean Water Act

  • commit to oppose oil pipelines and to close those that are already doing significant environmental damage

  • working with others we will leverage investments to encourage corporations to adopt policies that will sharply and rapidly reduce emissions of carbon

  • encourage personal adjustments to diets that will make the earth more sustainable

  • continue to oppose the purchase and use of packaged water

  • continue to explore, teach and advocate about the interconnections between racism, climate change and migration, poverty and hunger

No decisions by this, or any, government will cause us to turn away from our Congregational commitments to hear and act to address the ‘cry of the poor and the cry of Earth’.