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Utah Religious Leaders To Discuss Environmental Issues

nasa.gov
The U.S. is the number one trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year.

The event, called “Faith, Stewardship, and a Changing Earth” will include four panelists of different religious affiliations, who will participate in a conversation about how their faith and deeply held values should incorporate caring for the creation. The moderator of the discussion, Susan Soleil, who is also the Director of Utah Interfaith Power & Light, said religious people are engaging in environmental action.

“People of faith, when they are given opportunities to align their head and heart with their values they jump at the opportunity. There are close to twenty houses of worship around the state that have solar panels on their houses of worship,” she said. “It changes the energy, literally and figuratively, in their building what goes out of their building, how their heart radiates out love and appreciation.”

In light of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the United States and his most recent encyclical, the UVEF has decided it’s the perfect time to discuss the issue. James Westwater, the Chair of UVEF spoke highly of the Pope’s stance on environmental issues.

“This person, this human being stands up, he looks around, he sees what’s going on, he’s a scientist by training he’s a spiritual leader by vocation, and he is doing in my not humble enough estimation, a great job as the leader of 1.2 billion human beings that call themselves Catholics,” he said.

The panel discussion will be on Thursday, September 24 at 7p.m. at the Provo Public Library.