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It is “time to turn the pulpit green,” said Michael Bausch, who has an active role in the leadership of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests. Bausch said he was prompted by a colleague in ministry who shared her frustration that seldom, if ever, does she hear “anything from the pulpit addressing The Care of God’s Creation, one of the seven primary social teachings of our Church.”
“The Climate Crisis is a spiritual, moral, religious issue,” Bausch said, in a letter intended to prompt clergy and other preachers. “I am your brother priest who believes we must address the issue from the pulpit. The first couple of times I did I was hesitant to do so, but I received overwhelming support for speaking out on this critical issue.”
His letter was published on the website of the AUSCP during the Season of Creation. “I encourage you to please consider preaching on the topic of the Climate Crisis the weekend of October 2 and 3, the Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time.”
He notes that “The first reading from Genesis addresses a portion of the creation story,” and “The Gospel from Mark addresses marriage and divorce. With a little imagination, one could easily address our marriage to God’s creation as humans and how we perhaps are divorcing ourselves from God’s creation through our abuse of it.”
Bausch offered homily hints and several links to documents about the Vatican Season of Creation, which runs through the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. He also offered suggestions for action on a parish level, including the formation of Care for Creation teams, installation of energy-efficient lighting and using biodegradable paper goods. The complete text of his letter is available at the AUSCP website.
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For further information, see www.auscp.org or contact the following:
Rev. Michael Bausch, Michael.bausch@dor.org, (585) 314-2602
Paul Leingang, (812) 459-1374, auscp.communications@gmail.com, (812) 459-1374