Ignatian Solidarity Network Endorses St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation & the Poor

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH, April 29, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) announced today that it will endorse the "Saint Francis Pledge" to Care for Creation and the Poor, led by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change. ISN is one of several national organizations that have joined the effort to respond to an environmental call to action from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

On the announcement of the endorsement Christopher Kerr, ISN Executive Director, said, "The St. Francis Pledge provides a framework for the Ignatian Solidarity Network to further engage member institutions and thousands of individual members of the Ignatian family in caring for creation. Environmental issues directly impact the most vulnerable in our world and call us to act with greater solidarity through prayer, learning, action, and advocacy."

The pledge asks individuals to make a difference in five areas: prayer and reflection on the duty to care for God's Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable, learning about climate change, assessing one's own environmental impact, acting to reduce their impact, and advocating for policies and initiatives that protect the environment and the world's poor. According to Kerr, ISN will establish a national committee representing Jesuit and partner institutions to develop ways that institutions and individuals can engage in the pledge.

More information on the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is at: http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/

The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) is a national social justice education and advocacy organization inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. ISN works primarily with individuals connected with Jesuit universities, high schools, parishes, and social ministries throughout the United States. Constituencies include students, faculty, parish members and staff, alumni, current and former Jesuit Volunteer Corps members, and many others. ISN has over sixty member institutions across the United States. The Ignatian Solidarity Network is an independent 501(c)(3), incorporated in 2004, and currently based in University Heights, Ohio. More information is available at their website: http://www.ignatiansolidarity.net