Church of England: Fracking may harm God's glorious creation

Church of England officials in northern England have warned congregants fracking may damage "God's glorious creation." In a leaflet distributed in Lancashire, the diocese of Blackburn raised questions about fracking, a controversial process to extract natural gas from rock by injecting pressurized liquid, The Daily Telegraph reported. Critics say fracking can cause major water pollution problems. "The time we spend thinking, praying and acting now to protect our drinking water, and the rest of God's glorious creation cannot compare with the time succeeding generations could potentially spend trying to make good what will likely happen if we in the church remain uninformed and silent," the leaflet said. The diocese also said landowners tempted need to think about the environmental price to be paid. For many landowners, fracking is tempting because it allows them to keep their property while getting money for it. "The rush to benefit from the gas-drilling bonanza is an obvious temptation for many and this, of course, raises the question of how consideration for God the Creator enters into the decision-making process," the spokesman said. Prime Minister David Cameron has encouraged fracking in Britain. A spokesman for the diocese said the church is not trying to take a position on the issue but is encouraging its members to think about the ethical questions involved.