Ep. 12 - Cardinal McElroy on US bishops and climate change

San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy, a key ally of Pope Francis, says U.S. Catholic bishops are not giving enough attention to the pope's call for the world to address global climate change. In this episode of "The Vatican Briefing," expert journalist Christopher White interviews McElroy about how the U.S. bishops' conference has (and has not) implemented the teachings of pope's 2015 environmental encyclical Laudato Si', which called for dramatic action to confront global warming. The need to address the issue, says McElroy, "has not gotten the attention of the conference that it should get, and that the pope is calling us to get." Also in this episode, White and co-host Joshua J. McElwee discuss Pope Francis' continued health issues and the pope's most recent call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Later, they are joined by NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe to discuss McElroy's comments, and to talk about some positive initiatives by U.S. bishops to encourage environmental efforts. This podcast and NCR's Future Media Initiative are made possible in part by the generosity of Bill and Jean Buchanan. Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program. Relevant links: Associated Press reporting on the pope's continuing health issues: Pope again asks aide to read remarks, as respiratory problems persist Christopher White's column about the anonymous cardinal's letter about Pope Francis: Anonymous Catholic cardinal argues for a next pope very unlike Francis Catholic News Service coverage of the pope's latest call for a ceasefire in Gaza: Pope calls for cease-fire in Gaza; calls disarmament 'moral duty' Christopher White's coverage on the San Diego conference on the church and climate change: US church failing on pope's climate goals, bishops say at private conference Brian Roewe's reporting on McElroy's decision for his diocese to divest: In first for US church, San Diego Diocese divests from fossil fuels Brian Roewe's reporting on the Chicago Archdiocese's green energy plan: Chicago Archdiocese to power parishes, schools with 100% renewable energy Joshua McElwee's initial 2015 report on the release of the encyclical letter Laudato Si': Francis' encyclical an urgent call to prevent world of 'debris, desolation and filth'