Coalition includes pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, chaplains, and other faith leaders from communities across New Jersey

More than 230 clergy and faith leaders representing congregations and faith communities across all 21 New Jersey counties are urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would require major fossil fuel companies to help pay for climate-related damage and infrastructure costs.

The coalition, organized by GreenFaith, plans to submit testimony in support of the Climate Superfund Act (S2338/A3735) on Thursday, June 4, during an 11 a.m. hearing of the Assembly Environment Committee.

Supporters say the legislation would create a mechanism to recover costs from fossil fuel companies that have contributed significantly to climate change. The money could be used for climate resilience projects, disaster preparedness efforts, and infrastructure improvements without increasing costs for taxpayers.

Business groups argue that the act is unconstitutional, will add costs for New Jersey residents, and will end an industry they say is vital to the state’s overall economy.

Religious leaders supporting the act include pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, chaplains, denominational leaders, and faith-based advocates from a wide range of religious traditions, including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Quaker communities. Organizers described the effort as one of the broadest faith-based mobilizations in support of climate accountability legislation in New Jersey’s history.

“For more than 50 years, fossil fuel companies knew their products were destabilizing the climate and putting communities at risk,” said Rev. Fletcher Harper, executive director of GreenFaith. “Now New Jersey families are paying the price through stronger storms, flooding, rising costs, and damaged infrastructure.”

Faith leaders supporting the bill argue that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of economic justice, public health, and moral responsibility. They contend that taxpayers should not bear the full cost of increasingly severe floods, storms, heat waves, sea-level rise, and other climate-related impacts.

“Fossil fuel companies are privatizing profits and socializing costs,” said Imam Saffet Catovic of Green Muslims of New Jersey. “Polluters must pay.”

Other faith leaders cited religious teachings about environmental stewardship and caring for future generations as reasons for supporting the measure.

Supporters are urging lawmakers to advance the bill out of committee and send it to the full Legislature for consideration.

The June 2 letter

Dear New Jersey legislative leaders,

As New Jersey faith leaders, we affirm that protecting the planet and caring for creation is fundamental to our faiths, indeed it is our sacred duty. We know that the climate crisis harms everyone, but disproportionately harms communities of low wealth, people of color, and immigrants. As our people continue to suffer from extreme weather disasters and as federal protections are rolled back, we demand action from our New Jersey legislative leaders. 

The fossil fuel industry must take responsibility for the climate chaos and damage they have created, repair the harm they have caused and fund mitigation projects against future harms. We know that the oil and gas industry has continually earned enormous profits and has the ability to pay for their share in damages and still remain extremely profitable.

We support the proposed Polluters Pay To Make NJ Affordable Act (S2338/A3735) aka Climate Superfund Act which would make New Jersey more equitable and affordable by producing millions in aid to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Therefore, with deep moral conviction, and in the interest of protecting our families, neighbors and communities, we strongly support passage of the Polluters Pay To Make NJ Affordable Act.

With Faith and Urgency,

New Jersey (county, statewide, and regional)

Baptist Ministers Conference of Newark & Vicinity, Rev Robert Cole Jr

Catholic Social Services Office, Diocese of Trenton, NJ Brenda Rascher, Exec. Dir.

Coalition For Peace Action, Rev Robert Moore

Episcopal Diocese of Newark, The Venerable Diane Riley

Faith in New Jersey, Charlene Walker, Executive Director

Franciscan Response to Fossil Fuels, Renee Allessio

Green The Church, Rev Dr Ambrose Carroll

GreenFaith Circle of Southern NJ (19 houses of worship), June Hament

GreenFaith NJ, Rev Ronald Tuff

Interfaith Action Movement –  I AM, Rev Derrick Green

Interfaith Climate Action, Lauren Carlton

Islamic Alliance, Alecia Jones

Islamic Alliance, Suchi Alam

Laudato Si’ Movement, NJ Chapter, Terrence Thompson, Coordinator

Muslim League of Voters, Jimmy Smalls, Executive Director

New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders, Rev Sara Lilja, Executive Director

New Jersey Council of Churches, Rev Jan Phillips

Newark Interfaith Alliance, Rev Lois Scott-Rountree

New Jersey Association of the United Church of Christ, Rev Rusty Eidmann-Hicks, Moderator

Pax Christi NJ, Ms. Carol Fay

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Amman Seehra, Chair of the Board

Summit Area GreenFaith Circle, Bill Glancy

The Presbytery of the Coastlands, The Rev Dr Mary Westfall

The Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey, Rev Jeanne Radak

Tree of Life Community Zoom Church, Rev James deBoer

Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council, Rev Carmine Pernini

Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ, Rev Charles Loflin, Executive Director

Unitarian Universalist Faith Action NJ, Environmental Justice Task Force, Michael Skelly, Chair

United Church of Christ, Rev Craig Peterson, Central Atlantic Conference

Atlantic County

Rev Katherine Scott-Kirschner, Ocean Heights Presbyterian Church, Egg Harbor Township NJ

Rev Rachel Sutphin, Presbyterian Church at Hammonton, Hammonton NJ

Pastor Hunter Dudkiewicz, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Egg Harbor City NJ

Bergen County

The Rev Lynne Bleich Weber, Church of the Atonement, Tenafly NJ

Rev Dr Kendall Moore, Cresskill Congregational Church, Cresskill NJ

Imam Mohammad Charaf, El-Zahara Islamic Center, Midland Park NJ

Rev Jack Cuffari, First Congregational Church, Haworth NJ

Jeanne Martin, Moderator,  First Congregational Church, Haworth NJ

Rev Dr Mark Suriano, First Congregational Church of Park Ridge, NJ

Rabbi Gabe Cohen, Temple Emanu-El, Closter NJ

Rabbi Steven Sirbu, Temple Emeth, Teaneck NJ

Rev Karma Cloud, SoWisdom, Englewood NJ

Rev Marc Oehler, West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood NJ

Rev Hyo-Jung Kim, Moresemere Community Church, Ridgefield NJ

Rev Schuyler Berdan, Calvary Methodist Church, Dumont NJ

Rev Beverly Huck, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Haworth NJ

Rev Annie Allen, Rutherford Congregational Church UCC, Rutherford NJ

Rev Ruben Jurado, St. Martin’s Episcopal, Maywood and St. Matthew’s Episcopal, Paramus

The Rev Hilary Won, All Saints’ Episcopal Korean, Bergenfield NJ

Rev Dr Joanne Van Sant, Friends to Friends Community Church, Ridgewood NJ

The Rev Anthony Puca, Jr., Grace Episcopal Church, Westwood NJ

Marselys Lucero, Justice Promoter, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Englewood Cliffs NJ

Rabbi Joshua Waxman, Temple Beth Rishon, Wyckoff NJ

The Rev Patt Kaufman, St Paul Lutheran Church, Ridgefield NJ

Rev Gregory Jackson, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Hackensack NJ

Rev Andree Mol, Central Unitarian Church, Westwood NJ

Rabbi Barry Schwartz, Congregation Adas Emuno, Leonia NJ

Rabbi Jordan Millstein, Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Tenafly NJ

Deacon Mary DePinto, Good Shepherd Episcopal, Fort Lee NJ

Ellen Ewing, St Marks Episcopal, Teaneck NJ

Burlington County

Ruth Darlington, Clerk, Climate Change Group, Medford Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society Friends, Medford NJ

Rev. Ray Elberson, ELCA NJ Synod, Medford NJ

The Rev. Kimberly Vaughn, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Marlton NJ

Rev George Rizor, Maple Shade Congregational Church, Maple Shade NJ

Camden County

Rev Robert Gregorio, Doctor of Sacred Theology, Catholic Diocese of Camden, Camden NJ

Father Michael Matveenko, Catholic Church of St. Mary, Cherry Hill NJ

Chris Baeckstrom, Faith and Justice Leader, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Cherry Hill NJ

Rev Dr Kenneth Hallahan, Retired Priest of the Camden Diocese, Camden NJ

Julie DeMareo, Pastoral Associate, The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill NJ

Elder Rita Brown, First Presbyterian Church, Haddonfield NJ

Sister Bonnie McMenamin, Sisters of Saint Joseph, Camden NJ

Rev John Berry, St Mark’s Lutheran Church, Oaklyn NJ

Rev Andrew Jones, St Mark’s Lutheran Church, Oaklyn NJ

Sandra Czerniakowski, Care for Creation Team, The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill NJ

Father Joseph Wallace, Diocese of Camden, Camden NJ

Cape May County

Rev Dr Nicole Wilkinson, Cape May Presbyterian Church, Villas NJ

Ann Dunphy, Creation Care Team, Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Marmora NJ

Cumberland County

The Rev Ellen Rutherford, The Episcopal Diocese of NJ, Bridgeton NJ

Kathleen Brandt, Clerk, Greenwich Friends Meeting (Quakers), Greenwich NJ

Essex County

Sister Pat Stringer, OP, Sisters of St. Dominic, Global Issue Commission, Caldwell NJ

Rev H. Brady James III, First Bethel Baptist Church, Irvington NJ

Rev H. Brady James IV, First Bethel Baptist Church, Irvington NJ

Rev Dr Delores Watson, First Congregational Christian UCC, Irvington NJ

Bishop Jethro C James, Jr, Paradise Baptist Church, Newark NJ

Rev Moacir Weirich, St Stephan’s Grace Community, Newark NJ

​​Imam Ali Salaam, Masjid Muhammad-Newark, Newark NJ

Rabbi Ariann Weitzmann, Bnai Keshet, Montclair NJ

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, Bnai Keshet, Montclair NJ

Rev John Sampson, Glen Ridge Congregational Church, Glen Ridge NJ

Reverend Deacon Jacqueline D. McLeod, Christ Episcopal, Glen Ridge & Bloomfield NJ

Rev John Rogers, First Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

Rev Ann Ralosky, First Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

Rev Katrina Forman, Union Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

Rev Joseph Chu, St Paul’s Church, Nutley NJ

Imam Kevin Dawud Amin, Masjid Al-Wadud, Montclair NJ

Rev Anya Sammler-Michael, Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, Montclair NJ

Rev Audrey Hasselbrook, St James Church, Upper Montclair NJ

Rev Leah McCullough, Union Congregational Church, Montclair, NJ

The Rev Dr Robert Morris, St George’s Episcopal Church, Maplewood NJ

Rev Grant Mansfield, St George’s Episcopal Church, Maplewood NJ

Rev Heather Cherrey, First Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

Rev Bowie Snodgrass, Christ Church, Short Hills NJ

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, Short Hills NJ

The Rev Diana Wilcox, Christ Episcopal Church, Bloomfield & Glen Ridge NJ

Marjorie Royle, President, First Congregational Church, Verona NJ

Bishop Timothy L. Pernell Jr., Bet HaShem YHWH Episkopos Worldwide Ministries, East Orange NJ

Imam Mujahiddeen Mohammed, Masjid Muhammad-Newark, Newark NJ

Rev Joe D McClain, Greater Bethel Baptist Church, Newark NJ

Pastor Clarence L. Smith, Enhance Church Newark Campus, Newark NJ

Rev James Bailey, Vineyard Baptist Church, Newark NJ

Rev Fredrick Morrast, Newark NJ

Rev Robert Morrast, Newark NJ

Bishop Charles E.Mitchell Sr, Project Redirect Ministries Inc, Newark NJ

Rev Bennett Johnson Jr, Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Newark NJ

Elizabeth Lee, Sunday School Teacher, Faith Temple OFWBC, East Orange NJ

Chaplain Duel Morgan, New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange, East Orange NJ

Catherine Spinella, Creation Justice Ministry, UnionCongregational Church, Montclair NJ

The Rev Dr Johann Bosman, Community Congregational Church UCC, Short Hills NJ

Dr Sharon Fennema, Union Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

Maureen Prince, Green Team Ministry, First Congregational Church, Montclair

Rev Phyllis Crichlow, First Congregational Church, Montclair

Ina Isobe, Union Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

Bishop Rudy Carlton, Jehovah-Jireh Praise & Worship Church Center, Newark NJ

Professor Mikal Naeem Nash, East Orange NJ

Dr. Judith Stark, St. George’s Episcopal, Maplewood NJ

Gloucester County

Pastor Joseph Graumann, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Woodbury NJ

Pastor Andy Gordon, Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, Wenonah NJ

Hudson County

Rev Fletcher Harper, Church of Our Saviour, Secaucus NJ

Pastor Menzi Nkambule, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Jersey City NJ

Rev Damaris Porsch-Ortega, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Jersey City NJ

Dr Lauren Porsch-Ortega, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Jersey City NJ

Rev Danielle McCleary, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Secaucus NJ

Sister Susan Francois, Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Jersey City NJ

Hunterdon County

Rev JJ Simpson-Keelan, Living Waters Lutheran Church, Raritan NJ

Rev Carmela Vuoso-Murphy, Unity Spiritual Center, Milford NJ

The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Lundquist, Grace United Church of Christ, Flemington NJ

Rev Amy Lincoln, Flemington Presbyterian Church, Flemington NJ

Rabbi Eric Cohen, Flemington Jewish Community Center, Flemington, NJ

Rev David Snyder, Stockton Presbyterian Church, Flemington NJ

Mercer County

Rev Dr Charles Boyer, Mt. Zion A.M.E Church, Trenton NJ

Rev Dr Darrell L. Armstrong, Shiloh Baptist Church, Trenton NJ

The Rev. Christopher Cox, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Trenton NJ

Rev. Dr. Kirk A. Johnson, Christ Congregation, Princeton NJ 

Rev Paul Shoaf Kozak,  Cristo Rey – Christ Episcopal Church, Trenton NJ

Pastor Jaymie Kosa, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, Ewing NJ

Rev Carol Haag, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, Princeton NJ

Rev. Dr Peter Bridge, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Trenton NJ

Charles Hardy, Clerk, Trenton Meeting of Friends (Quaker), Trenton NJ

Gooitzen van der Wal, Chair Peace and Justice Committee, Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville NJ

Rev Rupert Hall, Hope For The City, Trenton NJ

Middlesex County

Rev Seth Kaper-Dale, Reformed Church of Highland Park, Highland Park, NJ

Rev J. Amos Caley, Reformed Church of Highland Park, Highland Park, NJ

Rev Dr LL DuBreuil, Reformed Church of Highland Park, Highland Park, NJ

Rev Dr Roberto Fois, Trinity Presbyterian Church, East Brunswick NJ

Robin Gowan, Clerk, New Brunswick Monthly Meeting (Quaker), New Brunswick NJ

Amanda Calderone, NJ Assoc of UCC, Social Justice Witness Task Force, Highland Park NJ

Monmouth County

Rev Tammy Young, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Little Silver NJ

Rev Cameron Overby, United Methodist Church, Red Bank NJ

Rabbi Joel Abraham, Temple Beth Miriam, Elberon NJ

Rev Geoffrey Curtis, Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park NJ

Rev Chase Danford, Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park NJ

Rev Nada Sellers, Holmdel Community United Church of Christ, Holmdel NJ

Rev Martha Eidmann-Hicks, Colts Neck NJ

Rev Douglas Grote, Retired Presbyterian Pastor, Ocean Grove NJ

The Rev. Mark Van Sant, Episcopal Diocese of NJ, Monmouth Beach NJ

Rev. Tricia Sheffield, Middletown Reformed Church, Middletown NJ

Rev Sue Smith, Retired, Coastland Presbytery, Atlantic Highlands NJ

Dr. Rosalie DiSimone-Weiss, Matawan NJ

Rev Grace Losso Modla, Community Church of Keyport, Keyport NJ

Susan Shaw, Christian Care Ministry, Holmdel Community Church, Holmdel NJ

Don Pope, Holmdel Community Church, Holmdel NJ

Morris County

Imam Saffet Catovic, Muslim Chaplain, Drew University, Religious LIfe Council, Madison NJ

Rev Ellen Kohn-Perry, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chatham NJ

Rev Dr Debra Duke, The Community Church of Mountain Lakes, Mountain Lakes NJ

Rev Luana Cook Scott, Morristown United Methodist Church, Morristown NJ

Rev Serena Rice, Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, Budd Lake NJ

Rev Canon Michel Belt, Grace Episcopal Church, Madison NJ

Dr Tim Barrett, St.Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chatham NJ

Dr. Laurel Kearns, Drew Theological School, Madison NJ

Mark Burmbaugh, Brookside Community Church, Brookside NJ

Rev. Sasha Ostrom, Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Morristown NJ

Ocean County

Rev Nicole Kurkowski, All Saints Episcopal Church, Lakewood NJ

Rev Theodore Foley, Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River NJ

Rev Dr Maira Sanzo, St. Raphael the Archangel Episcopal Church, Brick NJ

Rev Fr Peter De Franco, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Toms River NJ

Rev Carolyn Shafer, Barnegat Quaker Meeting, Barnegat NJ

Rev Susan Royle, Living Word Baptist Church, Beachwood NJ

Rev Susan S. Jones, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Toms River NJ

Passaic County

Pastor Thomas Farrar, Gilmore Tabernacle Church, Paterson NJ

Elder John B. Gadson, Gilmore Tabernacle Church, Paterson NJ

Rev Dr Jalyn E Lyde, The Historic Calvary Baptist Church, Paterson NJ

Deacon Jeanette S. Lyde, The Historic Calvary Baptist Church, Paterson NJ

Dr. Tyeshia Reels, The Historic Calvary Baptist Church, Paterson NJ

Parish leader, Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church, Paterson NJ

Rev Dr Victor Peterson, Retired United Methodist, Clifton NJ

Rev Ninabeth Metcalf, United Methodist Church, Wayne NJ

Deacon Bernice Barr, New Creech Temple United Holy Church of America, Paterson NJ

Evangelist Lutrisha Wilson, New Creech Temple United Holy Church of America, Paterson NJ

Salem County

Pastor Andy Gordon, Lutheran Church of St Ambrose, Pennsville NJ

Somerset County

Pastor Corey Lee, Minister for Missions, Evangelism and Social Justice, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset NJ

Rev. Lissette Gonzalez Sosa, Sanctuary + Seed, Martinsville NJ

Pastor Chelsea Scholl, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Somerville NJ

Rabbi Arnold Gluck, Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough NJ

Rev John Zamboni, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, Somerset NJ

Rev Steven Clark, Six Mile Run Reformed Church, Franklin Park NJ

Sussex County

Rev. Peggy Ludlow, Holy Counselor Lutheran Church, Vernon NJ

The Rev Elizabeth Ivell, St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Sparta NJ

Union County

Msgr Timothy J. Shugrue, Pastor Emeritus, St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Cranford NJ

Rev Julie Yarborough, Christ Church, Summit NJ

Rev Dr Chuck Rush, Christ Church, Summit NJ

Rev Dr Denison D. Harrield Jr.​​, Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Summit NJ

Rev Kathryn Irwin, Calvary Lutheran Church, Cranford NJ

Rev Carmine Pernini, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rahway NJ

Karen Venturella, GreenFaith Ministry Co-chair, St Teresa of Avila, Summit NJ

Rev Laura Quackenbush-Steele, United Methodist Church of Summit, Summit NJ

Rev Dr Robin Tanner, Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Summit NJ

The Rev. Joseph Parrish, Episcopal, Elizabeth NJ

Dr Billie Bailey, Faith Based Institute Of Public Policy, Kean University, Union NJ

Dr Kellie LeDet, Faith Based Institute Of Public Policy, Kean University, Union NJ

Lynn M. K. Franklin, New Providence United Methodist Church, New Providence NJ

Rabbi Ruth Gais, Chavurat Lamdeinu, Summit NJ

Rev Ramon Collazo, Santa Isabel Lutheran Church, Elizabeth NJ

Ayaz Aslam, Muslim Community Center of Union County, Elizabeth NJ

Rabbi Emily Losben-Ostrov, Temple Sholom, Scotch Plains NJ

Rev Stacy Smith, Fanwood Presbyterian Church NJ

Rabbi Ethan Prosnit, Temple Emanu-El, Westfield NJ

Rabbi Victor Appell, Temple Emanu-El, Westfield NJ

Mahdee Najeeullah, Treasurer, Masjidullah, Plainfield NJ

Sarah Hoffman, United Women in Faith/New Providence United Methodist, New Providence NJ

Julie Lister, Stewards of The Earth/New Providence United Methodist, New Providence NJ

Rev Stephen Callands, Church of The Living God, Plainfield NJ

Rabbi Avi Friedman, Congregation Ohr Shalom, Summit NJ

Rabbi Uri Allen, Temple Sha’arey Shalom, Springfield NJ

Rev Dr Deborah Huggins, Central Presbyterian Church Summit, NJ 

Rev Adam Gorman, Central Presbyterian Church Summit, NJ 

Deacon Sharon Dougherty, Bound Brook Presbyterian Church, Bound Brook NJ

Warren County

Deacon Annie-Alexandra Pike, St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Phillipsburg NJ

Rev Wayne Sherrer, St James’ Episcopal, Hackettstown NJ

Rev Dr Franklin Vilas, Heath Village Chapel, Hackettstown NJ

Selected Clergy Quotes:

• ​​One of our 7 themes of our Catholic Social Teaching calls for us to Care for God’s Creation.  Let us be good stewards of the earth here in NJ.
• We, the Dominicans of Caldwell, New Jersey recognize that the accelerating climate crisis violates the sacredness of all creation and community of life. 

We resolve to further scrutinize our use/abuse of Earth’s resources with regard to personal lifestyles, congregational decisions, and political/ economic structures. Climate justice demands our immediate and concrete actions to alleviate those causes that threaten the vitality, dignity, and well-being of all members of Earth’s community, especially the most fragile and impoverished.

• Care for creation and commitment to economic justice are fundamental to my understanding of how Christ calls us to love our neighbor. 
• This is basic justice: those who inflict the damage must pay for it.
• I have been serving in Newark for 28 years and have seen the consequences of climate change already from floodings and heat waves. And this is in addition to the long term pollution historically present in our area.
• Caring for our environment is a basic call in Scripture, to be good stewards of God’s Creation. 
• In my tradition we are called to care for God’s good creation and through our faith we seek holistic justice for all. This includes addressing environmental justice and insisting those reparations be paid. 
• As people of faith, we are charged by God with the stewardship of all creation.  Our failure to do so has harmed all the inhabitants of earth, especially the most vulnerable.  We must act to repair the damage we have caused.
• We, as people of faith, tell our parishioners about God’s gift to us in creation, and the importance of maintaining it in the best fashion.  This is a critical statement to polluters of any kind.
• Climate change is, and will be, a top challenge to civilization!
• Our care for the natural world, and peoples’ well-being in it cannot be ignored. Please do the right thing by both!
• Preserve God’s creation!
• The Rutherford Community stands to protect God’s precious creation of this Earth.
• As a faith leader and lifelong New Jerseyan, I see every day how extreme weather and environmental damage burden our most vulnerable neighbors—families already struggling to afford housing, seniors on fixed incomes, and children whose schools and homes are not built for the storms we now face. The Climate Superfund Act is a necessary, just, and responsible step. It ensures that the corporations most responsible for climate pollution help pay for the damages communities are already experiencing, instead of placing the full financial weight on taxpayers. New Jersey has an opportunity to lead the nation with a policy that protects public health, strengthens our resilience, and honors our moral obligation to safeguard future generations.
• This Act is an essential component for addressing the climate crisis.
• Climate change concerns us all. Let’s work together.
• God/the Spirit of Life gave us the earth; we must care for it.
• We have been entrusted to be stewards of God’s creation.
• As stewards of God’s creation, we must actively care for the earth and our neighbors. 
• Environmental justice is not only a Christian mandate, as required in the instruction to care for creation, but it is also a human right. No more polluting to increase corporate profits.
• We must break the destructive illusion that “if the customer was willing to buy, then fair’s fair when it comes to product and profits.”  Our moral obligations to one another and to the planet rise above capitalism’s code.  
• In my tradition we are called to care for God’s good creation and through our faith we seek holistic justice for all. This includes addressing environmental justice and insisting those reparations be paid.
• I value the environment…we must take care of it! 
• Unitarian Universalist Faith Action NJ Environmental Justice Task Force supports this letter and bill. We have taken a moral stand against exploitation of the vulnerable people, communities, and natural systems. This bill would be an important step in making these injustices and injuries right.