Update: 3 p.m.
In the next few weeks or months the Cincinnati Archdiocese will be distributing materials aimed at getting parishioners to be more green.
Archbishop Dennis Schnurr says most priests are already on board and will continue to advocate energy conservation. “The Holy Father’s message is an urgent, spiritual call addressed to ‘every person living on this planet’ to better care for our common home, the Earth, and all of us can do something to ensure this planet remains as God intended,” said Archbishop Schnurr as he went on to make a call to action to Ohio residents and leaders.
Some people may follow the lead of St. Francis-St. George Parish where the church has an environmentally friendly pledge for parishioners.
Director of Property Management and Real Estate Jeff Bohrer says most parishes are doing lighting upgrades for sanctuaries and gymnasiums. At Cincinnati's Downtown headquarters, the Church is putting on a new roof with "an Eco Cap sheet on it and what it does (is) it helps take some of the nitrous gases out of the atmosphere as a catalyst to clean the atmosphere to clean the city itself," says Bohrer.
Original Post: Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will emphasize the importance of having a sustainable environment Wednesday at a 10:00 news conference where he will be joined by nearly 30 organizations, businesses, universities and hospitals from Cincinnati and Dayton.
The news conference is in response to Pope Francis's recent encyclical on the environment, Laudata Si' ("Praised Be You").
The Cincinnati Archdiocese says Schurr "will discuss energy efficiency and pollution reduction in the State of Ohio."
The Archdiocese's Director of the Catholic Social Action Office Tony Stieritz say one important issue is what happens after the news conference. He says the Church already has a climate change task force ministry. "This is an opportunity for us to figure out what does that table look like so that we can all empower ourselves to do better at this."
