A Vision for Environmental Justice

Catholic-led interfaith conference slated for April; Keepers to be featured

 

By Hugh M. Carola

 

As you may have read in the last issue of Hackensack tidelines, I’ve been a part of the New Jersey Catholic Coalition for Environmental Justice (NJCCEJ) since it began more than a year ago. The NJCCEJ is a Church-sanctioned initiative whose purpose is to help Catholics and all people of faith come to a deeper understanding of themselves as stewards of Creation.

 

As part of its commitment to the people of New Jersey, the NJCCEJ is sponsoring the first-ever statewide conference on faith and ecology during the weekend of April 25-27, 2003. Entitled, “A Vision of Environmental Justice: our Responsibility for God’s Creation,” the conference will take place in McDonnell Hall at Princeton University.

 

On the second day of the Conference, Capt. Bill and NY/NJ Baykeeper Andy Willner will present a workshop on the Public Trust Doctrine, an ancient law and one of the foundations of the modern Keeper movement. “Under the Public Trust Doctrine, the people are the true owners of our rivers, bays, oceans and the lands they touch,” Bill often explains. “That’s what environmental justice is all about.”

 

Tuition is affordable.  Folks can pre-register either per day or for the entire weekend, and a full conference brochure is available for the asking. For any and all information about the NJCCEJ conference, please contact Kay Furlani at the Archdiocese of Newark, 973-497-4342 or Envirojust@rcan.org. Hope to see you there!