During his speech to a joint meeting of Congress, Pope Francis called for a “courageous and responsible effort” to stop “environmental deterioration caused by human activity.” A recent survey, however, shows that slightly fewer than half of American Catholics believe global warming is caused by human activity.
In his address to Congress, Pope Francis stated:
“I call for a courageous and responsible effort to redirect our steps and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity.
I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States—and this Congress—have an important role to play.
Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.”
These remarks regarding nature echo the sentiment Pope Francis shared when he spoke at the White House yesterday.
While a survey conducted by Pew Research Center between May 5-June 7 shows that a majority of American Catholics share Pope Francis’ belief that the Earth is warming, fewer than half attribute the warming to human activity.
According to the survey, more American Catholics believe in global warming than the general public. 71% of American Catholics surveyed believe in global warming, compared to 68% of the general public.
The belief in global warming among Catholics also crosses party lines: A majority of Catholic Democrats (85%), Independents (72%), and Republicans (51%) all believe in global warming.
When it comes to pinning the cause of global warming on humans, American Catholics are split.
Slightly fewer than half of American Catholics (47%) responded they believe global warming is caused by human activity, compared to 45% of the general public.
The idea that global warming is mostly caused by human activity appears to divide American Catholics on partisan lines. A majority of Catholic Democrats (62%), approximately half of Catholic Independents (48%), but fewer than a quarter of Catholic Republicans (24%) believe humans are mostly to blame for global warming.