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 called for moral choices that ensure equitable protection of water as New Mexico faces historic droughts and shrinking reservoirs.

The message follows reports from the NASA Earth Observatory showing that the Elephant Butte Reservoir, the largest in the state, reached just 1.4% capacity this summer. This is the lowest level recorded since 1971, caused by early snowmelt and persistent drought.

In his letter, Wester noted the connection between water and the Catholic faith, mentioning its use in blessings when entering and leaving churches. He also referenced Pope Francis' warnings in Laudato Si' regarding potential global water shortages. This local call for action follows a prayer intention from Pope Leo XIV, who noted that 25% of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water.