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Our physical dependence upon water and the graciousness of a loving creator is reflected
in the central place that water takes in the practices and beliefs of world religions and the
spirituality of indigenous peoples. Water, a creative force, is essential for all life. It is
the common heritage of all creation, a sacred gift. Water cleanses: it washes away
impurities, purifying objects for ritual use as well as making a person clean, physically
and spiritually. No other substance on Earth carries so profound a spiritual meaning.
For Judaism and Christianity, water is prominent in initiation rituals. The pouring of
clean, fresh, living water, symbolizing the spirit of God, makes manifest a new spiritual
life. Cleansing with water consecrates the body and is understood as a preparing of
oneself for a closer communion with God. The cleansing character and power of water is
essential in Islam as well, as Muslims become ritually pure before approaching God in
prayer. Water also has a special place in Hinduism because of its spiritually cleansing
powers as Hindus strive to attain physical and spiritual purity. For Indigenous peoples,
water is sacred, offering life and connecting everything in a vast unity celebrated through
rituals of cleansing and gratitude.
All life shares the same water, partaking of one another, with all that has been and that
will be, through life-sustaining water. The contamination of water or the act of withholding
it from anyone is an affront to the sacredness of water. Preserving and making available
fresh water as a sacred legacy is a collective responsibility that includes the involvement
and participation of all.
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Water: The Situation
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Living Waters: A Sacramental Commons (http://www.ncrlc.com/HART_LivingWater.html)
John Hart, now professor of Christian ethics at Boston University, delivered this keynote address at
the NCRLC Water: A Sacramental Commons workshop February 8, 2003, Washington, DC
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Adoption of Human Right to Water (http://www.ncrlc.com/AdoptionHumanRightWater.html)
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted the General
Comment on the right to water in 2002. The General Comment states that: "The human right to
drinking water is fundamental for life and health. Sufficient and safe drinking water is a
precondition for the realization of all human rights." The Comment defines the sufficiency, safety,
affordability and accessibility to water -- and describes the State's legal responsibility in fulfilling
the right.
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Folly of Water Privatization – Corporations are the Problem not the Solution
(http://www.ncrlc.com/crl-magazine-articles/vol45no2/Hauter.pdf)
Wenonah Hautter, then director of Public Citizen’s Water for All Campaign, highlights growing
concern about the privatization of public water systems around the world in this presentation at
NCRLC’s Water: A Sacramental Commons workshop February 8, 2003, Washington, DC
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Time to Renew a Commitment to National Stewardship – The Clean Water Act at 30
(http://www.ncrlc.com/crl-magazine-articles/vol45no2/Noble.pdf)
Martha Noble, Senior Policy Analyst for the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, assesses the state
of water quality policy in the United States in this presentation at NCRLC’s Water: A Sacramental
Commons workshop February 8, 2003, Washington, DC
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4th World Water Forum Ministerial Declaration
(http://www.worldwaterforum4.org.mx/home/..\files\Ministerial_Declaration.pdf)
Government ministers representing countries throughout the world attended the Fourth World
Water Forum March 16-22, 2006 in Mexico City, Mexico and agreed to this ministerial declaration.
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Water: Catholic Thought
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Water: Essential for Justice and Peace – An Interfaith Statement to the 4th World Water
Forum (English language pdf format) (http://www.ncrlc.com/1-
pfd-files/WaterEssentialJusticePeace.pdf) |
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El agua: vital liquido para la justicia y la paz – Declaracion conjunta de los grupos de fe
dirigida al IV Foro Mundial del Agua (Spanish language pdf format) (http://www.ncrlc.com/1-
pfd-files/El_aguatranslation.pdf) |
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Water and the Community of Life: Reflections from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
In almost every community in every country where Maryknoll missioners live and work, water is
of urgent concern. With many other peope of faith and good will, Maryknoll missioners are
searching for a deeper understanding of our "sister" water and are calling for a more just
distribution of water of all creation and its peoples.(http://www.ncrlc.com/1-pfd-files/
maryknoll_water.pdf) |
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Water, An Essential Element for Life – An Update
(http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc
_20060322_mexico-water_en.html)
Because access to safe water and sanitation is important for the human family and thus of direct
concern to the Holy See and the Catholic Church, the Holy See presented to the 4th World Water
Forum in Mexico City this update to its initial observations (Water, An Essential Element for
Life) (http://www.ncrlc.com/vatican-water.html) contributed on the occasion of the 3rd World
Water Forum in Kyoto.
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God’s Sacred Gift of Water
(http://www.ncrlc.com/diocesegallupwater2005.html)
Statement by the Most Rev. Donald E. Pelotte, SSS, Bishop of Gallup, New Mexico, February 15,
2005
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Privatization of Water (pdf format) (http://www.ncrlc.com/1-pfd-files/lcwr_statement.pdf)
"Water is not a commodity to be bought and sold for profit, but rather a common good…"
Statement by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
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The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good
(http://www.ColumbiaRiver.org)
A pastoral letter of the Catholic bishops of the Columbia River watershed as an effort to develop
and implement an integrated spiritual, social and ecological vision for the watershed that promotes
justice for people and stewardship of creation.
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The Columbia: Flowing Waters of Life (http://www.ncrlc.com/skylstadlecture98.html)
A presentation by Most Rev. William Skylstad, Bishop of Spokane, as the Tobin lecture at the
1998 annual conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economic and Trade.
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Water: Taking Action
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A Water Ethic to Renew the Earth (http://www.ncrlc.com/WaterEthic-RenewEarth.html)
This dynamic document is based on the proceedings of NCRLC’s Water Ethic Workshop,
February 8, 2003 in Washington, DC, and continues to serve as the foundation for NCRLC water
initiatives.
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Stewardship of Louisiana’s Community Waters: The Ezekial 34 Initiative
(http://www.ncrlc.com/crl-magazine-articles/vol45no2/Gorman.pdf)
Rob Gorman, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, describes this innovative ecumenical groundwater
initiative.
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The Centeredge Parish Education Project (http://www.ncrlc.com/crl-magazine-
articles/vol45no2/Graustein.pdf)
Jeanie Graustein, Environmental Justice Ministry Coordinator for the Office of urban Affairs of the
Archdiocese of Hartford, describes a statewide project to educate parishioners about land use,
water quality and watershed protection, equity and the common good.
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The Contention over the Use of River Water in the El Paso Area (http://www.ncrlc.com/crl-
magazine-articles/vol45no2/Mele.pdf)
Fr. Carmen Mele, OP, Diocese of El Paso, examines moral, social and political issues surrounding
use of groundwater in El Paso, Juarez, and Southern New Mexico, and educational program to
address them.
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Prayer of Water (http://www.ncrlc.com/Prayer-of-Water.html)
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WATER: Life before Profit (http://www.devp.org/testA/current.htm)
Action-oriented website of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
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Water for Life: In Defense of Our "Sister Water" (http://www.ofm-
jpic.org/aqua/dl/english/water_en.pdf)
How religious and all people of good will can express reverence and concern for the precious gift
of water.
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Water for a Thirsty Land (http://www.ncrlc.com/birkenfeld_thirstyland.html)
Darryl Birkenfeld presents a model based on the pastoral circle for responding to the Rio Grande
River water conflict among El Paso, Juarez, and Southern New Mexico that can be applied to most
any water conflict.
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Environmental Justice Projects (http://www.ncrlc.com/EJC-water_projects.html)
Descriptions of water-related projects conducted by U.S. dioceses and
Catholic Conferences and funded, in part, by the USCCB Environmental Justice Grants Program
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KAIROS: Canadia Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
(http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/action/campaign.asp) |
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