Alberta bishop questions the morality of oilsands

January 2009
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Weighing the environmental cost of developing the Alberta oilsands the head of the Catholic Church in the Province has some concerns.

The Roman Catholic bishop for the region around Alberta’s massive oilsands projects is questioning the “moral legitimacy” of their rapid development, saying the destructive effect on the environment is against God’s plan for the earth.

In a pastoral letter posted to the website of the Diocese of St. Paul, Bishop Luc Bouchard says the earth is a gift that, undamaged, allows people to sense God’s existence.

“Therefore, even great financial gain does not justify serious harm to the environment,” he writes.

Oilsands developments threaten the natural order on an overwhelming scale, Bouchard says.

I’ve often wondered why Christian leaders have not been more vocal defenders of the environment. After all, their religious beliefs argue against the need for material wealth and the accumulation of assets.