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Petrochemical Pollution, the Unborn, and Maternal Health
A Louisiana Catholic Health Conference
Register today!
April 4-5, 2025
Join us for a special conference!
Pollution, Maternal Health and Unborn Children:
A Look at Unintended Consequences of Petrochemical Waste
Conference Summary:
- PRAYER and faith reflection
- ENCOUNTER: a “geography of challenges and opportunities tour” of St. James Parish with RISE St. James
- SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, and SOCIAL ANALYSIS: A panel of two leading scientific experts from local universities focused on getting to the truth of current scientific evidence and health care experiences.
- THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION: Presentation and discussion of what our Catholic Tradition has to say about these issues.
- ACTION: What are the most promising ways we can act together as Church to impact this issue.
- DIALOGUE: We will build on the tradition of dialogue in the Church in Louisiana by infusing a balance between presentations, dialogue, and moments of silence.
Dates and Times: April 4, 2025 (6:30pm - 9:00pm) and April 5, 2025 (8:30am - 3:30pm)
Location: Oak Alley Plantation (Vacherie, LA)
Cost: $20 (suggested donation)
Objectives:
● Create a space to build relationships between local Catholics, health workers, and residents of Louisiana’s river parishes.
● Engage and discuss the scientific data.
● Continue the process of transforming culture toward care of God’s Creation and the promotion of the common good.
● Build unity in the Church at a time of political polarization.
For questions contact Jeff Korgen at jkorgen@gmail.com
We have reserved a hotel block at the Quality Inn Donaldsonville - Gonzales (2275 Highway 70, Donaldsonville, LA, 70346, US). Please contact Madie Troy no later than March 11, 2025 to coordinate a reservation: madie@catholicclimatecovenant.
Pollution caused by petrochemical corporations has contributed to high cancer, miscarriage and birth defect rates in communities along the 82-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans — a region known globally as Cancer Alley. Grounding a look at these concerns through the lens of our core Catholic values–the rights, human dignity, and protection of pregnant women, the unborn, and children–we intend to host a conference in collaboration with local leaders that will tie environmental health concerns to the impact they have on pregnant women and unborn children. This conference is the result of four years of dialogue with the Church in south Louisiana.
Friday, April 4
Meeting Facilitator: Dr. David Robinson-Morris
6:30 p.m. Check-ins, Receive Packets, Coffee/Dessert available
7:00 p.m. Welcome & Evening Prayer
7:30 p.m. Catholic Theological Perspectives (Dr. Thomas Ryan and TBA)
9:00 p.m. Adjourn
Saturday, April 5
Meeting Facilitator: Dr. David Robinson-Morris
8:30 a.m. Coffee and Breakfast Snacks
9:00 a.m. Overview of the Day, Blessing
9:05 a.m. Tour of Petrochemical Corridor (Ms. Sharon LaVigne)
11:15 a.m. Petrochemicals, Unborn Children, and Maternal Health: A Scientific and Medical Perspective (Dr. Kimberly Terrell and Dr. Stephania Cormier)
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:45 p.m. Responses to Petrochemical Pollution’s Impact on Maternal and Fetal Health Industry (TBA), Organizing Perspectives and Legal Approaches (Rise St. James)
3:00 p.m. Closing Prayer Service
3:30 p.m. Adjourn
Registration
Petrochemical Pollution, the Unborn, and Maternal Health
A Louisiana Catholic Health Conference
April 4-5, 2025