Environment Called a Religious Priority

A 10-year, $16-million program to make concern for the environment a fundamental focus of religious life in America has been announced by an umbrella group.

The long-term goal of the Leadership of National Religious Partnership for the Environment is to ensure that religious leaders of the next generation make caring for God’s creation a priority.

Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, said that to reach the goal will “require the fundamental transformation of human hearts and habits, the ultimate challenge for religion.”

The partnership’s announcement followed discussions in Washington among religious, business, labor, science, government and environmental leaders.

The group’s religious affiliates, serving more than 100 million Americans, are the U.S. Catholic Conference, the National Council of Churches of Christ, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network.

While secular and religious environmental groups work toward a common goal, the partnership’s leaders stress that their emphasis is rooted in Scripture.

“Environmentalism started with Genesis, not Earth Day,” said Paul Gorman, executive director of the partnership.