Katie Hirschboeck, Catholic Climate Ambassador, to Speak in Albuquerque

Did you know there are 25 Catholic Climate Ambassadors in the U.S.?  So what is a Catholic Climate Ambassador? These individuals are available to offer presentations on the moral implications of climate change and consistent with Catholic teaching as outlined by Pope Benedict in his World Day of Peace Message of 2010,

One of those ambassadors, Katie Hirschboeck, is coming to Albuquerque on Sunday, September 22.  She will be making a presentation at Aquinas Newman Center, 1815 Las Lomas Rd. NE, (UNM Campus), 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Hirschboek, a professor of climatology at the University of Arizona, will discuss the U.S. Catholic bishops’ statement, Global ClimateChange: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good and  the Catholic Climate Covenant.

Since 2006, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, the organization responsible for the Ambassador program, has played a pivotal role in the U.S. Catholic response to the enormous challenge of climate change. The Coalition and its many partners, including the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), have developed strategies to foster the spiritual formation and education of Catholics, to create resources, programs and projects that engage youth, families and parishioners, and to spur action that leads to public policy change at local, national and international levels.

So how does the Catholic Ambassador program work?  Here is more information from the coalition:

The Catholic Climate Ambassador program is intended to accelerate these efforts by raising the awareness of Catholics around the U.S. who worship in our parishes, learn in our schools and lead our many ministries. Each Ambassador has spent two full days understanding the science of climate change as well as the unique and vital contribution the Catholic community offers society as we face together the serious and long-term challenges of a changing climate. In addition, the Coalition has offered further training through a series of webinars”covering a variety of topics including Catholic teaching on population control, the policy priorities of the U.S. bishops in this area, and how to use PowerPoint effectively.