• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Featured panelists discuss environmental responsibilities at the Maryland Catholic Conference virtual town hall Feb. 15.

Virtual town hall addresses environmental responsibility in Maryland

February 17, 2022
By Priscila González de Doran
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Environment, Feature, Local News, News

The Maryland Catholic Conference hosted a virtual town hall Feb. 15 to discuss the responsibility of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to care for creation in Maryland.

The town hall, livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, was a local response to Pope Francis’ call to “care for our common home” in his encyclical letter “Laudato Si’,” in which he reminds the faithful of their moral and spiritual responsibilities for taking care of God’s creation.

“We are not its owners or masters, but rather its stewards,” said Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, a featured panelist. “That has to be applied locally. If it doesn’t happen locally it’s not happening.”

Some of the topics discussed include protection of the Chesapeake Bay, pollution in the City of Baltimore affecting the health of minorities, environmental legislation and policies, construction practices and practical advice for residents.  

Maryland State Senator Jill Carter of District 41 conveyed the impact of climate change and pollution in Baltimore City.

In Baltimore, asthma-related hospitalization rates are double compared to the rest of Maryland and three times higher than the United States average, she said. Three out of five African American and Hispanic Americans live in communities with toxic-waste sites.

“It is the history of segregation and redlining which has created the conditions we have,” Carter noted. “In order to truly establish environmental justice, we must increase educational opportunities and give a voice to the most impacted communities.”

Robin Clark, staff attorney at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said climate change is one of the pressing challenges affecting the bay.

Archbishop William E. Lori discusses environmental responsibilities at the Maryland Catholic Conference virtual town hall Feb. 15.

“It is making the bay clean up tougher,” she said. “We’re seeing more frequent and severe rain storms, as well as overall more volume of rain.”

According to Clark, a solution to mitigate the flooding people face in cities, towns and suburban areas is to plant trees and implement treatment plants in these cities and towns, which not only have a cooling effect but also an effect on water quality.

She noted that since 2010, there has been progress across the whole watershed with the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, in which nitrogen pollution has been reduced by 44 percent. The project, which attempts to improve water quality, will come to completion in 2025.  

Chris Becraft, partner at Underwood & Associates in Annapolis, said that in order to restore the ecosystem, construction practices must constantly evolve with science and design. 

As practical ways families can opt to help the environment, Russell Dickerson, a member of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change of the University of Maryland, suggested planting trees, riding bikes, replacing gas furnaces with geothermal and talking to congressional leaders to address environmental issues.

Costello applauded Archbishop Lori for his commitment to keeping Catholic schools and parishes engaged in environmentally conscious practices such as energy-efficient lighting, entering into power-purchase agreements, transforming unused asphalt lots into green space and planting trees. 

“Caring for the environment is as much about caring for our common home as it is about protecting the dignity of every human person,” Archbishop Lori said. “We remain completely committed to working with our partners to ensure we do everything possible to bring about environmental justice and to promote personal responsibility in caring for the gift God has entrusted to us to care for during our lifetimes.”

WMAR-TV news anchor Jamie Costello moderated the town hall panel and Father Raymond Harris, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Randallstown, led the initial prayer. Delegate Benjamin Brooks was also a featured speaker. 

The Maryland Catholic Conference will host another town hall on the environment with Cardinal Gregory March 9, 2022. Participants are to be announced.

Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org

Read More Environment

Papal farm, gardens will be home to new center promoting sustainability

Interreligious dialogue leads to care for planet, pope tells Buddhists

Catholic agencies in California organize outreach, relief for storm victims amid historic rainfall

Catholics in the Amazon hope COP15 generates projects in favor of forest

Pope enlists a willing warrior to spread the message of ‘Laudato Si’

Religious leaders seek consensus-based approach for decisions on climate

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Priscila González de Doran

A native of Mexico, Priscila González de Doran is a former staff writer for the Catholic Review. She now serves as a freelance contributor and is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville

She earned associate degrees in business administration and information systems, and social and behavioral studies, from Riverside City College in California. She has a certificate in campus ministry from the Dominican Institute in Oakland.

Priscila has collaborated with El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización, Periódico de la Red, Pascua Juvenil and Newman Centers.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • All are welcome: Finding a home at Mount St. Joseph
  • Priest who offered up cancer for clerical abuse victims says he was healed at Lourdes
  • Catholic pro-life activist Mark Houck acquitted of federal charges
  • Pope clarifies remarks about homosexuality and sin
  • New translation tweaks to sacrament of penance take effect this Lent

| Latest Local News |

Clarksville school shapes educators in faith formation

From robotics to hip-hop: Elementary schools offer wide range of clubs

Tuition at Catholic high schools in Baltimore archdiocese significantly lower than other area private schools

| Latest World News |

Affordable child care key component of post-Roe response, advocates say

Ukraine’s embattled religious orders keep faith and hope alive amid war

Speakers address how local churches can protect lives of mothers, unborn children from domestic violence

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • What does it taste like?
  • 4 tips for building a media-smart family
  • Affordable child care key component of post-Roe response, advocates say
  • Movie Review: ’80 for Brady’
  • Ukraine’s embattled religious orders keep faith and hope alive amid war
  • Here is the simplest way to share faith with kids
  • Speakers address how local churches can protect lives of mothers, unborn children from domestic violence
  • Clarksville school shapes educators in faith formation
  • Papal farm, gardens will be home to new center promoting sustainability

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED