CATHOLIC GROUPS LAUNCH NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE CARE FOR CREATION AT CLIMATE CONFERENCE

14 July 2021

CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON SEVEN SECTORS OVER SEVEN YEARS: WE’RE ALL PART OF GOD’S PLAN(ET)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baton Rouge, La.: At the second biennial conference, Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home, the Catholic Climate Covenant and its Catholic partners announced a U.S. campaign to encourage and inspire participation in the Vatican’s global Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

“We are honored to be the hub of activity for this Vatican initiative in the U.S. We will work diligently with our many partners to ensure that the U.S. Catholic community is committed to action to ease both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” said Dan Misleh, executive director, Catholic Climate Covenant.

The campaign ramps up after October 4, 2021, which coincides with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The messaging will reach seven sectors: families, parishes and dioceses, educational institutions, healthcare institutions, organizations and groups, businesses, and religious orders.

A new website godsplanet.us and social media channels, soft launched during the conference, give an opportunity to boost efforts of Catholic individuals and groups already interested and engaged in caring for the earth, offering them tools and resources ahead of Season of Creation which begins September 1.

“We're very excited about our Facebook and Instagram channels where Catholics can share the beauty of God’s earth and their efforts to preserve it. Our new website features stories where Catholics can learn what the Church is doing in the seven sectors and how they can be a part of God’s plan, since we are all part of God’s planet,” said Elena Gaona, director of communications, Catholic Climate Covenant.

Stories of U.S. Catholics caring for creation in the seven sectors can be read or submitted on the new website. Included in those first case studies on the site is a story about Louisiana photographer and Catholic, Marie Constantin, who raised the alarm on stormwater litter in Baton Rouge, La. With her grassroots social media presence and local support, she has inspired monthly cleaning and called attention to a larger problem.

“It is our hope that by providing examples of how Catholics are already engaged in care for creation that we will inspire activity across the entire country and in support of the Vatican’s global efforts to restore our common home,” said Misleh. “Our ultimate goal is to put our faith into action across the country so that together we fulfill God's commandments to truly care for his creation.”

About the U.S. Laudato Si’Campaign

We’re All Part of God’s Plan(et) is a national Laudato Si’ awareness and engagement media campaign to educate, inspire and activate U.S. Catholics to embrace and act upon the teachings of Laudato Si’ and to care for creation, especially by participating in the Vatican’s global Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

The campaign is managed by Catholic Climate Covenant and its member partners. It will embrace the support and engagement of many other Catholic partners who also have capacity for outreach, educational and advocacy programs in the United States.

About the conference:

Watch opening keynote session with Cardinal Cupich and Dr. Maureen Day here.