Saying Goodbye – In Memoriam 2020
2020 has been a year of loss. Even before the pandemic, we were grieving for our planet. We were grieving for loss of species, for children in cages, for the disparity in our world. But the last few months have been wrought with heartbreaks from Covid-19 to George Floyd to John Lewis. We are mourning as a nation and as a global community for our loved ones, our neighbors and our beloved leaders. CEE remembers a few of our friends and loved ones lost during this time of crisis. We invite you to reflect with us on lives lived in the spirit of justice and care for our Earth. These courageous lives, leave us with the incredible task of carrying the work forward for more equality, for reparation, for the right to vote and have our voices heard – and for the ability to do the work that we must to protect one another and our planet. We honor you. With deepest thanks.
Pamela Sue Rush
From Remembering Pamela Sue Rush – Rev. William Barber and CEE Fellow, Catherine Coleman Flowers
“She opened her life and showed the world what inequality looks like. Some of the wealthiest U.S. citizens walked through Pamela’s dilapidated home and sewage-polluted yard. Many left in disbelief. Yet she was quietly, patiently waiting for someone to help her escape this prison imposed upon her and her two children. In the meantime, she would testify before Congress and become an active member and one of the faces of the New Poor People’s Campaign led by Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis. She even hosted them in her home. A presidential candidate visited as well. Sen. Bernie Sanders promised to raise up her story as he fought for a more equitable society.”
Watch: PBS News Hour
Alfredo Sirkis – In the Fall of 2019, CEE Director Karenna Gore traveled to Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil at the invitation of Alfredo Sirkis to participate in Faith and Climate (Fé No Clima), for the Brazilian Climate Change Conference. True to the work of Earth Ethics faith and climate leaders were convened from not only the major religious institutions of the Catholic Church and Jewish communities but also with representation of indigenous faith and wisdom groups rooted in the forest and African traditions which make up the richly diverse cultural landscape of the country. Read Karenna’s overview of the experience: Faith in Climate, and watch Climate Reality’s tribute to Alfredo Sirkis below with his daughter, Anna Sirkis, and former US Vice President, Al Gore.
Father John Raush
Father John S. Rausch was a Catholic priest with the Glenmary Home Missioners served for over 40 years ministering in small towns throughout Appalachia and the South. He passed on February 9, 2020 while getting ready to say Mass.
From Father John: For the People, For the Land
“Father John regularly conducts tours of Appalachia introducing people to the ministries and social issues of the region. During these tours he combines social analysis with theological reflection encouraging a conversion of heart in participants. A strong environmentalist, he speaks against the devastation of mountaintop removal and encourages sustainable economic development.”
Enjoy reading ‘Four Lessons from the Life of Father John Rausch’ by Margaret Gabriel here.
Watch: Saving the Earth through our Spirituality