DON’T FRACK OUR WATER! Faith leaders stage anti-fracking pray-in
As Governor Cuomo’s decision approaches on opening New York to hydrofracking, 300 faith leaders from the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu traditions have signed a letter calling for a ban on the controversial practice.
Dozens of regional faith leaders gathered on Wednesday, Feb. 6 outside Governor Cuomo’s NYC office to lead a multidenominational pray-in against Cuomo’s plan to allow fracking, the controversial natural gas drilling method, in the state. They also presented a list of about 300 faith leaders and institutions across the state that have joined in the call for a ban on fracking.
The faith leaders used prayer to draw attention to the serious environmental and public health dangers that fracking would bring to New York if allowed to begin. Gov. Cuomo has a Feb. 27 deadline for deciding on the issue before a regulatory review process would have to restart.
“The Jewish tradition teaches that when God created Adam and Eve, God led them by the hand around the Garden of Eden. I am here today with my fellow clergy to demand that we end fracking practices that destroy our garden and endanger our health,” said Rabbi Marc Katz of Congregation Beth Elohim. “Every generation we stand again in Eden faced with a choice. Do we create a world of life and blessing or one of curse and death?”