Majority Whip Clyburn | MajorityWhip.gov

Clyburn Statement on Earth Day

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – To commemorate Earth Day today House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC) joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a meeting with the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, a diverse group of religious organizations who work and encourage others to care for the earth, God’s creation.  He also joined the Speaker in a tree planting ceremony on the US Capitol grounds.  Clyburn is the Chairman of the Democratic Faith Working Group.  Following is Clyburn’s statement on Earth Day.

“To whom much is given, much is expected.  As we come together to celebrate Earth Day, we must also pause and reflect upon our responsibilities to the health and well-being of our environment.  We may share diverse backgrounds, faith traditions, and political ideologies, however, we are all working towards the same universal aim: the good and equitable stewardship of our planet and its inhabitants.

“To be a good steward of the environment is to fulfill our moral obligations as persons of faith. Many know that James is my favorite book in the Bible. James provides a spiritual blueprint and reminds us that professions of faith are incomplete without actions of faith.  He writes, ‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead’ (2:14-17).  It is not enough to talk about the poor, the hungry, or the needy. We as people of faith are charged to do more.  

“It is my most profound belief that if James were writing his epistle today, he would add to that litany of concerns, the issue of climate change. And he would remind us that we cannot fight the battle against global warming on the backs of the poor and the most vulnerable amongst us. In communities around the world and around the country, including my congressional district in South Carolina, people are struggling to live because they must drink tainted water, breathe polluted air and till poisoned soil.

“Therefore, Earth Day charges us as legislators, as clergy leaders, and as persons of faith to love our neighbors and to show our commitment to the common good, not only with words and symbols, but also with authentic and prophetic deeds.”