Dear President Peterworth,

On behalf of Catholic Climate Covenant’s episcopal liaison, Bishop Richard Pates, and our board, staff, and partners, I thank you for the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Kentucky’s endorsement of the Catholic Climate Declaration. The Declaration announces your support for the Paris Climate Agreement and affirms our shared commitment in prayer, word and deed to meet its goals for the sake of the one human family and Our Common Home

On Monday June 18, the third anniversary of the release of Laudato Si’, Bishop Pates and other Catholic leaders announced on a tele-press conference that nearly 600 institutions had signed the Declaration. The leaders also shared the remarkable faith-based actions they are taking in charity and justice to address climate change. Several media outlets covered the event including Catholic News Service and National Catholic Reporter.

Since that time, more Catholic institutions have signed on, expanding to over 600 institutions, including 40 archdioceses and dioceses. We welcome your help in encouraging other Catholic leaders to sign on until September 12 when we will showcase our shared commitment at the Global Climate Action Summit.

But this is just the first step. In a few weeks, you will receive survey from us asking of your existing and new climate commitments – to pray, educate, and act – for example in reducing your carbon footprint. We will gather these commitments across the US Catholic community and share them at the Summit. To help in your efforts, we welcome you to explore the diversity of offerings on our website. Programs and services include Catholic Energies, establishing a creation care team, resources such as liturgical aids, prayers, educational resources and advocacy.

Finally, in the coming months, we may reach out to some of you to help grow the Church’s work in specific areas, like high school and university student engagement, climate justice, and curriculum development. For now, we express our gratitude to you for your support of the declaration, and feel blessed to have the opportunity to continue partnering with you in the Care for Our Common Home, for the greater glory of God.

May God grace you always with many blessings,
Jose

Jose Aguto
Associate Director
Catholic Climate Covenant