USCCB - (SDWP) - Children's Health and the Environment

Children's Health and the Environment

February 2005
(Update June 2005)

Issue

Children’s bodies, behaviors and size make them different from and more vulnerable than adults to many environmental health hazards. Children are exposed to environmental hazards at an early age, giving them more extended time to develop slowly-progressing environmentally triggered illnesses such as asthma, certain cancers and learning disabilities. Exposure to air pollutants and toxins is significantly more harmful to children, born and unborn. Children in poverty and children of color are at a disproportionate risk, with routinely higher rates of lead poisoning and asthma-related deaths and hospitalization.

Background

In an effort to develop the leadership of Catholic institutions to help address environmental hazards affecting children’s health, a coalition of major Catholic organizations and networks formed the Catholic Coalition for Children and a Safe Environment (CASE).¹ Through this network of national Catholic institutions, we have promulgated church teaching on the environment, justice, the common good, stewardship and option for the poor, and how these social teachings urge us as Catholics to care for creation and protect the lives of children who are vulnerable to environmental threats. Highlights of recent activities by CASE members include:

NCEA is building on a web resource for Catholic schools, “Ensuring a Healthy and Safe Environment,” (http://www.ncea.org/departments/nabccce/services/environmental.asp).
“Protegiendo Nuestro Futuro” (Protecting Our Future), NCRLC’s Spanish-language campaign trains and educates farmworkers about health threats from agricultural pesticides. PSAs, information capsules, mini-dramas and a radio talk show in Spanish have promoted parish classes in the Diocese of Yakima. Last November, NCRLC and USCCB exhibited at the Midwest Migrant Stream Forum to increase awareness of the role of Church in addressing environmental health issues affecting migrants.
The Knights of Peter Claver are developing a new educational video and website. The Project leader presented documentary video on the initiative to 400 attendees at the 2004 Knights of Peter Claver Convention last July.
USCCB has launched a new CASE website, www.usccb.org/case, and completed an updated packet on children’s health and the environment. Catholic Charities USA distributed the new packet to participants of its annual gathering last September.
Catholic health care systems continue to work together as part of CHA’s Partnership for Environmental Responsibility to help the ministry be more environmentally responsible.
NCCW released a special section on children’s environmental health in its July/August 2004 issue of Catholic Woman.

Policy Initiatives

On June 29, 2004, USCCB, along with other CASE members (CHA, NCRLC, NCEA and NCCW), submitted comments to the EPA on the Agency’s proposed regulations to reduce mercury emissions generated by power plants. The letter calls for a mercury rule that results in the most child protective and cost-conscious reduction of mercury from coal-fired power plants that is possible. As follow up to that letter, DSD and Government Liaison contacted the National Association of State Catholic Conferences about a resolution to reduce mercury emissions introduced at the National Conference of State Legislatures Annual Meeting on July 20, 2004.

CASE also continues to support the National Children’s Study, a longitudinal study of 100,000 pregnant women whose children will be followed from before birth until age 21. The study will provide information about environmental threats that may affect children's physical, mental, emotional and developmental health.

During 2003, USCCB presented comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the testing of pesticides in humans and concerns about the protection of children and vulnerable populations. USCCB and CHA also sent a letter in support of the Mercury Reduction Act (S. 616). To view the documents mentioned above, go to /sdwp/national/che.shtml

USCCB Position

As Catholics, we are called to care for God’s gift of creation and to protect the most vulnerable among us. Caught in a spiral of poverty and environmental degradation, the poor and the powerless bear a disproportionate burden of the effects of environmental problems, as their lands and neighborhoods are more likely to be polluted, to be near toxic waste dumps, or to suffer from water contamination.

In the face of these challenges, the Catholic community seeks to play an integral part in learning more, caring more, and doing more about the environment and the threats to it, and to our children. “For generations, the Catholic community has reached out to children… We have defended their right to life itself and their right to live with dignity, to realize the bright promise and opportunity of childhood. Now we renew this commitment and build on it. We seek to bring new hope and concrete help to a generation of children at risk.” (Putting Children and Families First, p. 17).

Action

Urge Congress and the Administration to protect children from exposure to harmful toxins such as lead and mercury.
Urge your local and state authorities to fund initiatives intended to assist public and private schools in providing an environment free of health hazards.

June 2005 Update

The Catholic Coalition for Children's Health and a Safe Environment (CASE) which includes: Catholic Health Association of the United States(CHA); National Catholic Education Association (NCEA); Catholic Charities USA; National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW); Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI); Conference for Catholic Facility Management (CCFM); Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. and Ladies Auxiliary (KPC); National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD); National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC); and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's Office of Domestic Social Development and Secretariat for Pro Life Activities, continues to educate on and advocate for public policies that protect children from environmental threats to health and safety.

Examples of recent CASE highlights include:

Catholic health care systems continue to work together as part of CHA's Partnership for Environmental Responsibility. In commemoration of Earth Day, CHA’s Catholic Health World April issue featured highlights of how Catholic health care ministry is making a difference in this area, including the 17 Catholic organizations recognized by Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E). One ministry system received an Environmental Leadership Award, two received Champions for Change Awards, and 14 facilities received Partners for Change Awards.
USCCB staff presented highlights of CASE during the “Renewing the Covenant” Convocation sponsored by the National Religious Partnership for the Environment on May 3. The Convocation was attended by four other CASE representatives. In addition to John Carr, Secretary of the Department of Social Development and World Peace, the Knights of Peter Claver project leader, Sylvia Washington, was a panelist in the roundtable “Critical Perspectives on Creation Care Activity in the Religious Community.”
Representatives of CASE partner organizations led a workshop, “Caring for Children, Caring for Creation,” during the 2005 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering last February.
CASE partners—NCRLC, NCW, Catholic Charities USA, the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and USCCB’s Environmental Justice Program—distributed significant numbers of education materials on children’s health and the environment at their respective annual meetings, through the California Interfaith Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment, and Georgetown University’s Interfaith Alliance for a Sustainable Future.

Legislative Activity: On May 19, USCCB supported two important environment and health-related amendments to the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2006 (See letter from Bishop DiMarzio at /sdwp/national/hastings.shtml). The Hastings amendment to ensure Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income Populations,” received unanimous support. The Stupak/Shaw/Pallone/Jeff Miller amendment to prevent the EPA from finalizing the agency’s proposed sewage dumping policy which would allow sewage treatment plants to routinely discharge inadequately treated sewage into our waters whenever it rains passed on a voice vote. We will continue our support for these amendments through the Senate and eventual conference committee.

USCCB also continues to support efforts to secure additional funding in FY 2006 for the National Children’s Study, a longitudinal study of 100,000 pregnant women whose children will be followed from before birth until age 21. The study, which is being coordinated by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, will provide information about environmental threats that may affect children's physical, mental, emotional and developmental health.

Resources

Make the CASE for Children’s Health: Catholic Coalition for Children and a Safe Environment.
Putting Children and Families First: A Challenge to Our Church, Nation and World.
Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching.

For More Information

Contact Roxana Barillas, USCCB, at (202) 541-3445, rbarillas@usccb.org

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¹ CASE is made up of the following members: Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA); Catholic Health Association (CHA); Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI); Conference for Catholic Facility Management (CCFM); Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. and Ladies Auxiliary (KPC); National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW); National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA); National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD); National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC); and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities and Office for Domestic Social Development.