Massachusetts Interfaith Call for Carbon Pricing

As clergy and religious leaders in Massachusetts, we urgently call upon our elected representatives to enact legislation placing a price on carbon that reflects its costs to the climate, public health, and the economy.

While we come from diverse religious traditions, we share the conviction of Pope Francis that we bear a moral and spiritual responsibility to respond boldly to the climate crisis. Climate change threatens not only future generations, but also the most vulnerable of our neighbors today.

As Pope Francis has affirmed, “There is an u rgent need to develo p po licies so that, in the next few years, the emissio n o f carbo n dio xide and o ther highly po llu ting gases can be drastically redu ced.” These po licies, Francis insists, mu st assu re that “the economic and social costs of using up shared environmental resources are recognized with transparency and fully borne by those who incur them, not by other peoples or future generations.”

Pricing carbon is a fair and effective way to strengthen our economy, encourage use of clean and renewable energy, and protect our children and neighbors from the worst ravages of climate change. A carbon fee sends accurate price signals to the market, and rebating the revenues on an equal per-person basis progressively benefits low-income residents. (For more information, see http://climate- xchange.org/carbon-pricing-basics/.)

May we leave a legacy for which our children and grandchildren will bless us.

Please use your vote, voice, and influence to put a price on carbon.

Charter Signatories

Rev. Laura Everett Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris Executive Director Bishop Suffragan Massachusetts Council of Churches Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

Rev. Dr. Jim Antal Rt. Rev. Roy Cederholm Conference Minister and President Retired Bishop Suffragan United Church of Christ in Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher Rev. Sue Phillips Bishop New England Regional Lead Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts Unitarian Universalist Association

Rt. Rev. Alan Gates Rabbi Katy Z. Allen Bishop President, Jewish Climate Action Network Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas Rev. Wendy Bell Missioner for Creation Care Interim Minister Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts First Parish in Malden

Rev. Kathleen McTigue Rabbi Ilana Foss Director Temple Beth Emunah Unitarian Universalist College of Social Randolph Justice Rev. Patricia Hayes Tomás Insua Brockton Global Coordinator United Church of Christ Global Catholic Climate Movement Rev. Dr. Robert R. N. Ross Fran Ludwig Consulting Minister Founder Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton Connecting Catholics on Climate Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman Rev. C. Raymond Selker, O.F.M. Assistant Rabbi Director of Friary Worship Temple Sinai St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center Brookline Boston Roman Catholic Rev. Dr. Kenneth Downes Shelburne Falls Rev. Msgr. Paul V. Garrity American Baptist Pastor Lexington Catholic Community Sr. Pauline Leblanc, S.C.O Sisters of Charity of Ottawa Mariama White-Hammond Lowell Minister Roman Catholic Bethel A.M.E. Church, Boston African Methodist Episcopal Sr. Marie-Thérèse Browne, S.C.N. St. Katharine Drexel Parish Rev. Dr. Peter Lovett Roxbury/Dorchester Christ Church United Roman Catholic Lowell United Church of Christ Sr. Barbara Quinn, R.S.C.J. St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church Rabbi Robin Sparr Cambridge Temple Emanuel Lowell Sr. Eleanor MacLellan, R.S.C.J. Newton/Cambridge Rev. Sarah Stewart Roman Catholic First Unitarian Church Worcester John Bell Yenkuei Chuang Rabbi Susan Abramson Jane Gilman Temple Shalom Emeth Order of Interbeing Burlington Buddhist

Rev. Barbara Threet Christina Leaño Minister Global Campaigns Coordinator Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church Global Catholic Climate Movement