Keep Applying Pressure

This week, there really is an “elephant in the room”: the upcoming election – and, well, you know, another particular “elephant” – making it difficult to think about anything else. Having acknowledged that is our situation today, however, I would like to point a way forward to a brighter future – also definitely needed this week – by briefly highlighting some very promising ideas and actions to come from us and to us as citizens, as individuals of all genders, as reformers and remodelers, and as people of faith.

Appropriately for this political week – month? year? years?? – the ideas and actions to which I refer came to light through a dialogue with a politician, Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania (who is not running for office this year), meeting with over 300 attendees on October 16 at a webinar hosted by the organization, Penn Environment.

In case you don’t know Penn Environment, be prepared to be elevated and energized by their statement of who they are, what they do, and why:

In case you don’t know Robert Casey, he is the senior Senator from Pennsylvania, a Democrat, a member of the Environmental Justice Caucus, and, by the way, a Catholic. It was so encouraging to hear how much Laudato Si influences his environmental agenda; our Church at its best in using its influence for good. Naturally women’s ordination per se did not come up, but faith did, as well as the underlying understanding that protecting and preserving the planet is most critical to women nationally and worldwide who suffer disproportionately from its degradation.

As part of his work on the Environmental Justice Caucus, he is one of the sponsors of Senate bill 3269 which calls for drastic reductions in greenhouse admissions by mid-century. Another top priority is agriculture, including forestry as well as farms, which he sees in the forefront of climate change disasters. He insists that farmers be at the table at each step of the process, voicing concerns and helping to formulate solutions. He also demands those solutions be logical and workable and endorses Senate bill 3429 which calls for verifiable data on the efficacy of conservation programs.

I was liking what I was hearing, and I liked this even more. He called for a “just” transition to creating and retaining a greener economy. To put people back to work or to facilitate their changing to sustainable employment, he supports a modernized Works Progress Administration-like program in which federal revenue under local direction funds environmental job creation. He also advocated a new version of the Civilian Conservation Corps with jobs and training that create the next generation of environmentally savvy farmers and conservationists.

Again, I’m not cheerleading for Senator Casey as much as for the way we might go about creating environmental justice. And I think this all does this fit in with women’s and other gender’s leadership and ministry in the Church. If nothing else, this is such a critical issue women will have to be part of the leadership and will have to minister to all of us in transiting or resisting this new world. As Casey pointed out, “Change is inexorable,” and we been saying that to our Church for years.

He made other points that could also inform us in our own mission. For example, he stressed demographics: The number of young people demanding action on climate justice is growing exponentially. We, as environmentalists, he said, need to marry with them, not turn away from them, in their quest. “We are listening,” he promised the new generation of environmental advocates. Church leaders, our ranks are falling: are you doing the same?

He also called for spotlights on, and empowerment of, people from faith traditions who are seeking to meet the environmental crises from a moral perspective. Appealing to reason is critical but, as important, is appealing to conscience. Yes!

And he had these final words for environmental justice advocates and to all of us who strive for justice everywhere: “Even if you have been speaking out for years, realize we have new and better tools to form coalitions, tap into resources, and further education. People are ready for bold action. Keep applying pressure!”

We are and we will!