Peaceful Energy for Renewing the Earth with Prairiewoods (hybrid)

In this talk via Zoom and in person at select locations, Dr. Erin Lothes will highlight the critical importance for transitioning rapidly to renewable, peaceful energy and explore energy justice. She will provide a theological framework for caring for our common home, Earth, with insights and resources from Laudato Si’ and other aspects of the Christian tradition. Dr. Lothes will share practical ways to engage communities in this great work as they call for change. Erin Lothes, PhD, is a Catholic theologian and author of Inspired Sustainability: Planting Seeds for Action (Orbis, 2016) and The Paradox of Christian Sacrifice: The Loss of Self, The Gift of Self (Herder and Herder, 2007), as well as many articles on faith-based environmentalism, divestment and energy ethics. Dr. Lothes was an associate professor of theology for ten years and is now senior manager of the Laudato Si’ Animators Program with the Laudato Si’ Movement. She has been a long-time collaborator with many faith-based environmental coalitions, such as the Catholic Climate Covenant, GreenFaith, the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale, and the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, where she is presently a visiting scholar. Most recently, she has written a commentary to introduce the Orbis Books paper publication of Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum. This is a program of the Tri-State Network, a coalition of congregations of women religious in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin who focus on peace, justice and spirituality. It will be offered virtually over Zoom, with in-person gatherings to watch and discuss together at Benet House Retreat Center (Rock Island, Illinois) and Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center (Hiawatha, Iowa). The cost is $10 per person. For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at www.Prairiewoods.org or 319-395-6700.