Catholic leaders make climate change plea to California lawmakers

Taking a cue from pope's call to action, bishops ask wary legislators to say yes to proposed legislation that would reduce emissions and residents' energy use

Citing Pope Francis's recent encyclical on the environment, leaders of the Catholic church in California spoke out this week to encourage wavering lawmakers to vote in favor of proposed sweeping climate change legislation that is struggling for passage in the final days of this session of the California legislature.

Speaking about SB 350, a bill that would reduce petroleum emissions by 50% in coming years along with restrictions on other kinds of energy use, Bishop Jaime Soto of the Sacramento diocese urged tentative lawmakers "to really think about the future of California and the future of Californians and what is the legacy we want to leave them.