Bush, Church Are Environmentally Challenged

By Franklin E. Vilas

For many of us who in recent months have read Robert Kennedy Jr.'s book, Crimes Against Nature , the election of George W. Bush to another term in office has spelled tragedy for the environment. Subtitled How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy , Kennedy's book documents the use of political appointments to undermine the work of EPA and the regulatory arms that have been brought into existence to maintain our environmental quality.

The “mandate” which Bush claims for a second term does not appear to reflect the 80% of the American public who polls show value environmental protection. Unfortunately, the issue of the environment was drowned out in the campaign by the drumbeat of terror and war. However, the fact remains that an overwhelming number of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, feel that preserving the environment with its direct impact on justice issues in the word is highly important.

Now that President Bush has won reelection, he may perhaps be looking forward toward the building of his historical legacy. And unless he wishes to be remembered simply as the one who pushed a right-wing agenda into the White House, he might want to consider addressing the environmental concerns of the people of the United States.

[Bush's] history thus far of listening only to those scientists who are paid to debunk the reality of global warming and denying a place in decision-making to those who have earned the world's respect has done little to enhance his legacy, or to undo his image as a “know nothing” president.

He could begin by taking seriously the research of the vast majority of respected scientists. His history thus far of listening only to those scientists who are paid to debunk the reality of global warming and denying a place in decision-making to those who have earned the world's respect has done little to enhance his legacy, or to undo his image as a “know nothing” president. He might revisit the subject of the Kyoto recommendations with an open mind, now that Russian President Putin has endorsed the protocol and helped put it into effect.

Looking beyond his broader political problems with the United Nations, he could turn to some of its older organizations, such as UNICEF, to globalize his slogan of “no child left behind,” or to UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Programme, which have a handle on the global environmental problems that face us.

Since he has shown an interest in hydrogen as a potential source of energy for the future, President Bush could take a lead in securing funds for the Plasma Project at Princeton University, which shows real hope of concrete advances in that area.

The Republican Party of Theodore Roosevelt and, yes, of Richard Nixon showed real leadership on conservation and environmental issues. President Bush could go a long way to establishing a worthy legacy if he used his second term to recapture Republican leadership in these crucial areas.

What is needed now is not less, but more of an effort to promote the concept of a global commons which is ours by the gift of God's grace, and which we are called to protect out of reverence as well as out of concern for the human generations to come. A new spiritual vision is needed, one which would raise the image of the beauty of God's universe once more to human consciousness. This is a spiritual, not an environmental task. Yet no environmental achievements in the future may be strong enough to overcome the human drive to consumption.

Only religious faith, which sees the sacredness of all beings, can change the hearts and minds of those who can make a difference. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious centers could become the source of a new vision that places environmental and justice issues at the center of our definition of human “values.”

Only religious faith, which sees the sacredness of all beings, can change the hearts and minds of those who can make a difference. Churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious centers could become the source of a new vision that places environmental and justice issues at the center of our definition of human “values.”

The Episcopal Church in the last decade has engendered a network of persons in the various provinces, which is now called the Episcopal Environmental Network . These issues are important enough for there to be an environmental justice commission in each diocese, and a concerted effort to educate congregations in the religious context of environmental stewardship. Groups such as the National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE), with its Protestant, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Evangelical membership partners, should be seen as a model organization for extended this work.

Liturgical opportunities, such as the Creation Season of the Episcopal Church, should be promoted in congregations of all faiths, in order to bring a change of heart to the American people, and to promote a vision of a sustainable future based in response to the Creator God.

One such vision was that of the French paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, whose death 50 years ago will be remembered at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City on Saturday, April 9, 2005. In a celebration of the “Epic of the Universe,” the Cathedral will seek to raise the vision of the divine hand in all of the Universe Story, and the spiritual call to human beings to live as stewards of creation.

The vision that the Cathedral is attempting to raise before us is one which needs to reach every congregation around the world. In the Episcopal Church we need finally to lift our eyes from the relatively trivial sins of the flesh to the more devastating sins against creation. The Witness and others can lead the way to a more vital and realistic view of God's universe, and of the calling of the human race to heal and value the earth.

The Rev. Franklin E. “Skip” Vilas, D.Min., is a retired Episcopal priest living in Lakewood, N.J. He was a founder of the Episcopal Environmental Network and of the New Jersey interfaith group Partners for Environmental Quality . Skip serves on a UN interfaith advisory committee, and may be reached by email at revfvilas@optonline.net .