WASHINGTON, DC - Bishop Frank J. Dewaneand Bishop Oscar Cantú welcomed a new resolution introduced in Congress yesterday, March 15, by a group of Republican legislators.

"The U.S. bishops welcome the commitment of a group of members of Congress to engage in constructive dialogue to protect our common home and to recognize the impact of climate change," said Bishop Dewane in response to the announcement of the Congressional resolution sponsored by several members in the House of Representatives, including Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

Bishop Dewane is the Bishop of Venice, Florida and chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  Bishop Cantú is the Bishop of Las Cruces, and chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the USCCB.

"The Catholic Church has consistently been an advocate for environmental stewardship and Pope Benedict XVI presciently called care for creation a 'sign of the times'", says Bishop Dewane.  "Environmental challenges are not going away and it is a sign of hope to see political leaders rise to meet a challenge that is the common responsibility of all."

"The co-sponsors of this resolution add their voices to an important conversation, and are demonstrating that stewardship of creation is an issue that rises above political partisanship. The dialogue is about what Pope Francis has called "one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day, climate change", said Bishop Oscar Cantu. "It is in the interest of lawmakers in all parties to recognize the protection of the environment as an important responsibility and to explore the numerous rationales for taking action. This resolution provides an important avenue toward answering the appeal in Laudato si' for 'a new dialogue...which includes everyone'".