Religious groups urge the Congress
to protect children from toxic chemicals

Washington, June 17, 2011 -- Leading up to Father's Day, nearly 30 state-based interfaith organizations today urged Congress to protect children, vulnerable communities, and God’s Creation from toxic chemicals.

Their letter to Congress cites the failure of federal chemical policies, such as the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), to protect the most vulnerable communities from toxic chemicals found in everyday products.

"In 35 years, TSCA has only managed to fully test 200 of the 84,000 chemicals in commerce," said Chloe Schwabe, environmental health program manager at the National Council of Churches.

"There is a growing movement of people of faith across the country concerned about the moral implications of unregulated toxic chemicals that end up in the bodies of children and other species. They are demanding the assurance that chemicals in everyday products are safe," Schwabe said.

The interfaith letter raises the moral implications of scientific research that has linked some toxic chemicals to prevalent health concerns, particularly in children.

"As we approach Father’s Day, we recognize that there are growing incidences of autism, childhood cancers, and learning disabilities among today's youth," said the Rev. Jan Olav Flaaten, executive director of the Arizona Ecumenical Council. "Pound for pound children eat, drink, and breathe more than adults. Yet we continue to expose children to chemicals of concern. No child should be burdened by toxic chemicals."

The observes that low-income and persons of color who live close to industrial manufacturing and disposal sites are  disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals.

"Jesus healed the sick and ministered to the poor," said the Rev. Marian McClure Taylor, executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches. "Today the health statistics for Kentuckians show daunting rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. As health costs continue to rise and affect vulnerable low-income residents, we must act to prevent chemical exposures that are known to or are strongly suspected of contributing to these illnesses."

The interfaith statement also declares that the call to protect children and Creation is an issue that extends across faith traditions.

"Buddhism teaches that we are all part of one interdependent web of life," said Eduardo Barrios of the Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center in Hartford, Conn.

"When plants and animals suffer from toxic pollution, human beings also suffer," Barrios said. "It is critical that each person take responsibility, in his or her own way, to preserve the well-being of all life by ensuring that pervasive toxic chemicals are removed from production, and ultimately the environment."

"One of the things the world’s great religious traditions share is a call to care for people and the planet," said Amanda Robinson, Coordinator of Texas Interfaith Power & Light, the environmental program of Texas Impact. "Because toxic chemicals are harmful to both -- especially affecting children in low-income communities and communities of color -- people of all faiths across Texas and the nation are increasingly working together to articulate these shared concerns."

The letter and signatories can be found at http://nccecojustice.org/downloads/health/state-letter-tsca.pdf.  

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org