to the Natural World
The Catholic church tackles the problem of the deteriorating
Columbia River watershed that once provided a home for 16 million
salmon and now houses only 700,000 annually. Water, used in the
Catholic church for such ceremonies as baptism, is considered both
sacred and alive and helped to instigate this revival of the
church’s connection to the environment.
Jim Robbins of the 30-year-old Colorado-based publication High
Country News writes about the eight Roman Catholic bishops
behind the movement. The prelates, who lead 1.2 million
parishioners in the Northwest, penned a 65-page letter that
encourages people ‘to forge a new environmental and spiritual
awareness about the Columbia River watershed.’
The bishops note, ‘There are problems and injustices in the
watershed–Salmon, the indicator species of the life community, are
becoming extinct, endangered or threatened. Greed, ignorance,
irresponsibility and abuse of economic and political power cause
problems and injustices.’
While this is a step in the right direction, some activists want a
more active stance. The executive director of the Columbia River
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission wants to see the church support the
breaching of four dams within the watershed. — Sara V.
Buckwitz
Go there>>
