STAND-LA Applauds Pope's Encyclical, Urges L.A. Archdiocese to Follow Vatican's Lead

Contact: Jackie Pomeroy, 323-892-2080

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, as Pope Francis releases his historic encyclical urging world leaders to tackle the looming problem of climate change, South L.A. residents are asking why the L.A. Archdiocese has not taken a stronger stance to protect their communities from oil drilling that occurs just feet from their front doors.

For years, community members have been fighting to shut down two oil sites that operate on land leased from the Catholic Church in dense residential neighborhoods. The sites, operated by AllenCo and Freeport McMoran, have become lightning rods in their communities as hydrocarbon and hydrogen sulfide emissions from the sites have caused illnesses in the community.

In 2013, nearly three years of community organizing paid off when the federal EPA temporarily shut down the AllenCo site and fined operators $99,000 after their inspectors toured the site and immediately fell sick with severe headaches and nausea due to chemical exposure. Residents have experienced a marked decrease in health problems since the shutdown, but worry what will happen when the site re-opens later this year.

The other drilling site on Archdiocese land, the Murphy site in Historic West Adams, has plagued residents with similar health and safety concerns. The site operates 24 hours a day and many neighborhood residents keep their windows closed throughout the day to keep out the noise, fumes and ash.

"The health and climate impacts of oil drilling are well documented, and we hope to enlist the assistance and partnership of the Archdiocese in ending this activity in our neighborhoods," said Reverend Kelvin Sauls, Senior Pastor at Holman United Methodist Church. Several members of the congregation are residents of the community adjacent to the Murphy Site.

The fact that the L.A. Archdiocese is actively seeking to keep these sites open, despite demonstrated harms to the community, has disappointed residents who had hoped to see a stronger response from a religious institution that protects the poor.

"I was horrified to learn that my Church is encouraging oil companies to pollute our community and sicken my children," said Teresa Mendoza, a neighbor of the AllenCo site.

Last year, after toxic emissions sent young Nalleli Cobo to the hospital with severe headaches, stomach pains, and heart problems, she recorded a moving plea to Pope Francis (vimeo.com/83510565), calling on him to protect her community from AllenCo's reopening. Upon hearing the news of the Pope's announcement today, she said, "Not only did my family get sick, but also my friends and my community. We have the right to breath clean air, have healthy bodies, and be able to open our windows without worrying about chemicals coming inside. It is time to take a stand against AllenCo and fight for our family and community. Like the Pope said, we need to protect our common home. I hope the Archdiocese will take his words to heart."

Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling—Los Angeles (STAND-LA) is a coalition of community groups that are dedicated to safeguarding the well-being, health and safety of Angelenos living and working in close proximity to oil drilling sites.