Santa Fe Archbishop Urges ‘Moral Choices’ on Water

Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe released a pastoral letter titled Uniting for Our Sacred Waters to urge Catholics to protect, conserve, and restore water resources. The archbishop's message comes as New Mexico faces historic droughts and shrinking reservoir levels. The NASA Earth Observatory reported this summer that the Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest in the state, has dropped to 1.4% capacity, its lowest level since 1971, due to early snowmelt and persistent drought.

In his letter, Wester encouraged the faithful to recognize the connection between water and the Catholic faith, noting its use in blessings when entering and leaving churches. He stated that society must make moral choices to ensure water is protected equitably. Wester also referenced warnings from Pope Francis in Laudato Si regarding potential global water shortages.

The archbishop's call follows a prayer intention from Pope Leo XIV regarding the care of water. The pope noted that 25% of the global population lacks access to safe drinking water and called for action and prayer to assist communities facing water scarcity.