'Climate change denial is immoral' Episcopal Church bishop hopes to educate the church on issues of climate change

"To deny climate change is to reject God's gift of knowledge," expressed Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and one of Christianity's most influential women.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The issue on climate change is morally akin to that of the civil rights movement, Schori explains. Due to the damage it is implicating to the developing world, it is Christian duty to attend to the needs of the people and the earth for it "to continue to be a flourishing place," she said.

In an interview with the Guardian, Bishop Schori stated the morality on the issue of climate change stems from how it affects the poorest and most vulnerable people of the world, and that not to use the knowledge on the phenomenon is denial of God's gift.

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She emphasized that the members of the Episcopalian Church understand that morality with regards to the concept of the life of the mind. "I really hope to motivate average Episcopalians to see the severity of this issue, the morality of this issue. Turning the ship in another direction requires the consolidated efforts of many people who are moving in the same direction," she said.

Schori was an oceanographer before ordained as a bishop, and driven to use her knowledge and current position to help people better understand and make action with regards to climate change.

The bishop also recognizes the challenges the issue of climate change is facing, from its denial in American politics to the strain of those resisting the use of science in classrooms, saying "It's hard work when you have a climate denier who will not see the reality of scientific truth."

Pope Francis had critically tackled the issue of climate change last January which had encouraged Schori and other church leaders.

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