WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pro-polluter Presidential candidates, Members of Congress and industry front groups have wasted no time criticizing the Pope’s forthcoming encyclical on climate change. In response to these attacks, LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo issued the following statement:

“These desperate attacks on the Pope’s forthcoming encyclical expose the iron-grip that the Koch brothers and fossil fuel industry have on their political allies. It is reprehensible that politicians are joining big polluters to criticize and attempt to discredit the Pope for discussing the moral obligation to act on climate change. The most extreme responses are making the outrageous claim that the Pope’s call to action will result in the deaths of thousands of people, when in truth the need to act on climate is rooted in the need to save lives. These baseless attacks are out of touch with the majority of American Catholics, who broadly echo public opinion and favor action to combat climate change.”

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