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WASHINGTON (ABP) — Radio ads in eight states will encourage Christians to view climate change as both a moral issue and a matter of national security.
A media campaign by the American Values Network will saturate Christian radio stations in key congressional districts in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia and Ohio, said Katie Paris, program and communications director for Faith in Public Life. The progressive group advocates for faith in the public square.
"This campaign provides a moral and national-security framework for supporting action on climate change, and it demonstrates that the faith and military communities will stand behind and encourage undecided members of Congress to support a climate bill that protects the most vulnerable and makes America more secure," she said in a conference call with reporters May 5.
Along with radio ads, the campaign includes e-mails to more than 5 million evangelicals and Catholics in four states.
"Security and our values are connected in this issue of climate change, because America is strong when we remain true to our values," said Jim Ball, president and CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network.
An ordained Baptist minister, Ball praised efforts by Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Tom Perriello (D-Va.) to work for legislation that reflects values of fairness, compassion and freedom.
Ball said compassion means "as a country we help those in need."
"Climate change will hit the poor and poor countries the hardest, and remaining true to the compassion within us means helping the most vulnerable adapt or cope with the consequences of climate change," he said. "We are a compassionate people, and we should address this problem of climate change precisely because we are compassionate."
Ball said climate change is an issue of freedom because its impact on the poor "will rob them of opportunities to create better lives for themselves and their children."
"Overcoming global warming is the next great cause of freedom, and we need legislation that reflects these values," he said.
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Ball, a graduate of Baylor University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is best known for media coverage of his 2003 multi-state tour in a Toyota Prius emblazoned with signs reading "What Would Jesus Drive?"
The new radio campaign coincides with a national survey commissioned by Faith in Public Life and Oxfam America that reveals strong support among Christians for laws that address climate change and attempt to protect those most vulnerable to its effects.
According to the poll, conducted by Public Religion Research, majorities of Americans, including majorities of Catholics and evangelicals, believe dealing with climate change will create new jobs and help avoid more serious economic problems in the future.
Nearly seven in 10 agree climate change is making it harder for the world's poorest people to support their families, and three-fourths support helping poor people adapt to food and water shortages caused by rising global temperatures.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.