EarthBeat

The United Nations biodiversity summit, known as COP16, is being held in Cali, Colombia. The international meeting is the first since countries in 2022 adopted a landmark deal aimed at halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems around the globe. (Flickr/UN Biodiversity)

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The climate is changing,
a matter of moral urgency.

How Catholics and other faith groups speak out and take action. Where ecological concerns and moral conviction meet, well that's our beat.

Sections

A prayer service inside St. Peter's Basilica starts the first session of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon at the Vatican Oct. 7, 2019. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Faith

El Sínodo de la Amazonía resuena en la Iglesia católica cinco años después

El Sínodo de la Amazonía trazó una senda de cambios, desde la creación de nuevas estructuras eclesiales —como la Conferencia Eclesial de la Amazonía— hasta la búsqueda de un rito litúrgico amazónico. Sin embargo, los retos persisten, con los derechos de los pueblos indígenas aún amenazados y la urgencia de proteger al 'pulmón del planeta'. En la búsqueda del papa Francisco de consolidar una Iglesia con "rostro amazónico", las mujeres —entre ellas las hermanas católicas— juegan un papel fundamental.

Barbara Fraser

Science

Faith coalition at UN biodiversity summit presses countries to deliver on pledges

Among delegates attending the latest United Nations biodiversity summit, called COP16, is a coalition of faith groups who say they aim to parcel out a larger space, and voice, for religion in conservation efforts.

Brian Roewe

A new national survey by the Institute for Sustainability & Social Justice at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., found that America's youth have high anxiety about climate change and little faith in the power of individual actions as solutions. (Dreamstime/Ritu Jethani)

Politics

Majority of US youth report eco-anxiety, Sacred Heart University survey finds

A new national survey found that young people place the greatest responsibility on the government to address climate change. One in three say they will support candidates who share their climate views.

Brian Roewe

People lined up in front of court house holding signs.

Justice

US bishops, Catholic groups ask Supreme Court to protect Native American sacred site

A diverse group of religious organizations weighed in to ask the Supreme Court to protect an Apache sacred site from destruction by a copper mining giant, including Catholic ones: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Knights of Columbus, and Notre Dame Law School's Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic, all filed friend of the court briefs, also known as amicus briefs, in support.

Mary Beth Keenan's daughter touches daffodils in their yard. (Courtesy of Mary Beth Keenan)

Small Earth Stories

Faith and a forest preschool help our family care for creation

Mary Beth Keenan

After "Bluey," the Holy Spirit and Google led this mom to enroll her 3-year-old in a forest school, her whole family learned more about caring for creation and cultivating community — with human and nonhuman friends.

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