National Catholic Reporter: Climate clashes with Trump could await as Cardinal McElroy heads to DC

by Brian Roewe, National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal Robert McElroy, a papal ally on ecological issues, will soon move to Washington D.C., where he will arrive less than two months after Donald Trump's return to the White House.

The appointment by Pope Francis places one of the U.S. Catholic Church's strongest voices on climate change in the nation's capital as Trump begins a second term as president. Trump has vowed to again pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, expand oil and gas production, and gut regulations aimed at reducing pollution that are seen as burdensome on business.

"I think it's going to be a challenging time for the environmental issues that are of concern to the church and lots of young people as well," said Dan Misleh, founder and executive director of the D.C.-based Catholic Climate Covenant.

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The Washington Archdiocese's plan was recreated under Cardinal Wilton Gregory from one he first commissioned while archbishop of Atlanta. Numerous dioceses have since utilized the Atlanta plan as their own blueprint.

"The fact that [Gregory] brought with him his Laudato Si' Action Plan was significant," Misleh said.

Its widespread adoption has made Gregory himself be seen as a leader on Laudato Si' in the U.S. church.

During his time in Washington, Catholic Charities finished the installation of the largest solar project in the district, a 5,072-panel array that Gregory blessed. An archdiocesan creation care committee has also sought to encourage parish-level actions, including guidance on how to shift to solar power. The archdiocese has a power purchase agreement with the local utility to power most of its facilities with clean energy.

The foundation left by Gregory will give McElroy a head start with any initiatives he might look to pursue, Misleh said. Two areas he suggested would be the hiring of a full-time creation care coordinator for the archdiocese, as he did in San Diego, and further expanding solar power. A headwind against any Laudato Si' efforts could come from the archdiocese's $10 million annual deficit.

"We look forward to working with Cardinal McElroy to continue this important work within the Archdiocese of Washington," Misleh said.

Read the full article here: https://www.ncronline.org/earthbeat/politics/climate-clashes-trump-could-await-cardinal-mcelroy-heads-dc