Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Interfaith service focuses on climate change

Omaha Together One Community is bringing together leaders of multiple faiths for an event ahead of Pope Francis’ address to Congress next week.

The Gathering for the Planet is Saturday morning in Omaha. It’s focused on climate change, and organizers hope it’ll send a message that the U.S. should take aggressive action on carbon emission reduction at the upcoming UN Climate Conference.

Michael McClellan of OTOC’s environmental committee says Pope Francis made a strong statement about climate change by including the issue in his encyclical.

"Religious people should be able to deal with this, it isn’t that abstract, it actually is happening, and I think there needs to be some motivation beyond economic or just self-interest that guides us day to day."

McClellan says Christian, Muslim, Unitarian, and Buddhist faith leaders are among those who will read statements on climate change before leading attendees in prayers for the planet.

Gathering for the Planet begins at 9 am Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Omaha, at 7020 Cass Street.