FLASHBACK: At Christmastime, Al Roker Talked About ‘Sin’ of Not Fighting Climate Change

Only one week until Christmas 2021. This is a time that millions of Christians reflect upon the meaning of their faith and prepare for Christmas 2021. This time of year, it would be very interesting for a news network to discuss religion. It just so happens that Al Roker brought up “sin” just three years ago today. However, it is not what you believe. It was all about global warming. 

The December 20, 2018, edition TodayOn the morning program, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe spoke about a Christian congregation that has taken a stand against global warming. After Dr. Katharine Hayhoe talked about the responsibility to save the Earth, Al Roker cheered “Amen to that. This Earth is our responsibility. It is sinful to ignore it and not act..”  (This is the same Roker who is “thrilled” by NBC’s New climate unitTo promote environmental activism. 

Co-host Carson Daly touted the segment by hyping, “This morning, we’re taking you to one church where scripture isn’t the only thing they’re preaching about.” These are the same networks that routinely Neglect the Christian presenceAnnual March for Life.  

Now when it comes to faith not related to “sinning” against climate change, Roker is looser in his piety. Today host Roker spoke with Washington D.C. Cardinal Wilton Grayson on February 15, 2021 about Joe Biden’s radically anti-abortion views. Roker gushed, “As someone who was raised Catholic, it was a special honor to talk to him about… our second Catholic president as his parishioner.”

It Today host didn’t say whether he thought abortion was a “sin.” 

You can find more flashback examples in our NewsBusters Time Machine. Go here.

Below is a transcript. For more information, please click on “expand”. 

Today
12/20/18
9:52:AM 

AL ROKER: It’s now time to see the latest installment in our loyal series. 

CARSON DALEY: Yes. We’ll take you this morning to one church, where the Bible isn’t all they preach about. 

JENNABUSH HAGER – We were able to meet two faith women who want people to think about climate change. This Washington D.C. sanctuary is where Chris Moermon, an evangelical pastor, and Jessica, a wife are holding on to their faith. 

CHRIS MOERMAN: Welcoming to Grace Capital City. It is a great pleasure to have you here tonight.  

BUSH HAGGER: Teaching their church the science behind global heating 

JESSICA MOERMAN – I am a climate scientist. 

BUSH HAGGER: Jessica chooses this career because she believes in God, and not to spite her faith. 

JESSICA MORMAN: Scientists are often taught to abandon your faith. It was a blessing to be able to trust the leaders in my church to show me I did not have to make a choice. 

BUSHHAGER 

JESSICA MOERMAN. One of our discoveries in marriage is that one can be both a person who believes and one who studies science. Science answers many questions about where, when and what. Faith answers the questions about who and how. 

Jessica believes that it is important to begin the conversation, then to take time to listen. 

JESSICA MORMAN: When talking to people about the possibility of climate change, my first instinct is to listen. What I have found is that it often doesn’t matter about climate science. This is a problem with solutions they are offered, which don’t align with their personal values. This young congregation wants to talk and is out looking for solutions. 

BUSH HAGGER: Her efforts are not the only ones. Katherine Hayhoe, a fellow climate scientist, also wants to encourage people to talk about climate science. 

DR. KATHARINE HYHOE: Jessica, me and a few others are the founders of a club that includes climate scientists who have been married to pastors. 

BRUSH HAGER – Both women were motivated by their faith in the possibility of educating others about global climate change impacts. 

HAYHOE: The climate change crisis is deeply unfair. The people who contribute the least to climate change are the ones who suffer the most. We can say “I don’t believe in the science,” but whether we believe in it or not, it’s real. While you could say, “I don’t believe” in gravity, if you take your foot off of the cliff you are going to fall. 

CHRIS MOERMAN  

BUSH HAGER – Hayhoe is a preacher who travels across the country to different congregations, such as Jessica’s. 

HAYHOE – If we believed the Bible as a Christian then we could be the ones demanding climate action. We are told by the Bible’s first book that humans have the responsibility for all living things on Earth. 

BUSH HAGGER: Trying to demonstrate how science and faith can co-exist. 

JESSICA MOERMAN – For me, science is just studying God’s creation. 

HAYHOE – So when someone asks if there is a conflict between faith and science, I will say that it’s not. Because science and faith are the opposite. Faith is evidence that we can’t see. It is the evidence that we see. 

ROKER : Yes. The Earth’s stewards are we. To not care for it, and not taking action to protect it is a crime. 

BUSH HAGGER: Yes. It’s true. Dr. Heyhoe just gave a Ted Talk about climate change. Jessica, on the other hand is currently in a fellowship that explores science and technology at the intersection of policy and science. Amazing women.