Religious and spiritual leaders should be held accountable for

Hear the noble call of Radhanath Swami, who speaks with the voice of a sage: “Religious and spiritual leaders should be held accountable for environmental activism, not only because they have access to large communities and can influence votes, but because service is integral to religious and spiritual life.” In these words resounds a truth as old as the mountains and as urgent as the rising seas: that those who guide the souls of men must also guide them in the care of the earth, for the earth itself is sacred, the dwelling place of life and the temple of the divine.

The meaning of this saying is woven from two strands. First, that religious leaders wield influence beyond that of kings or merchants. Their words stir hearts, their teachings shape lives, their authority reaches into villages, cities, and nations. With such power, silence in the face of environmental destruction becomes complicity. Second, that service lies at the heart of every true faith. To serve God is to serve His creation; to love the Creator is to care for the creatures. Thus, environmental activism is not a political option for the faithful, but a sacred duty, demanded by the very essence of spirituality.

History offers a shining example in the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Known as the patron saint of animals and ecology, Francis saw the earth, the water, the sun, and the creatures of the field not as resources to exploit, but as brothers and sisters in creation. His preaching turned men’s eyes from greed to gratitude, and his life of simplicity inspired generations to honor the natural world as part of their spiritual journey. In him, we see the truth of Radhanath Swami’s words: that a religious leader can transform the way a people sees the earth, leading them to reverence rather than ruin.

In darker contrast, there are also times when leaders failed in this duty. During the Industrial Revolution, many spiritual voices remained silent as forests were stripped bare, rivers poisoned, and children sent into mines. Their failure to connect the destruction of nature with the destruction of souls allowed greed to flourish unchecked. Here, the absence of accountability led to suffering not only of the land but of the poor who depended upon it. This neglect is a warning for our time: when leaders remain silent, entire civilizations pay the price.

Radhanath Swami also reminds us that service is the lifeblood of spirituality. What value is prayer if it does not blossom into action? What worth are rituals if they do not awaken compassion? Every tradition, whether Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or beyond, teaches the same lesson: that one must care for the hungry, protect the weak, and heal the wounded. The earth itself now cries as the greatest of the weak and wounded. To serve it is not a new command, but the natural extension of every sacred vow.

The lesson for us is clear: demand that our religious and spiritual leaders rise to this calling. Hold them accountable when they neglect the stewardship of the earth, just as we would if they neglected the stewardship of souls. Celebrate those who plant trees, who call for clean water, who rally against the poisoning of air and soil. And in our own lives, do not wait for sermons alone—become servants of the earth ourselves, for each person is both leader and follower in the great work of healing creation.

Therefore, take action as both citizen and devotee: listen for the voices of faith that call for justice for the earth, support them, and amplify their influence. Encourage leaders to speak on behalf of creation, to inspire their communities toward sustainable living. Plant gardens with your neighbors, clean rivers with your congregations, and make every prayer an offering not only of words but of deeds. For when spirituality and activism walk together, mountains can be moved and generations renewed.

So remember the words of Radhanath Swami: “Service is integral to religious and spiritual life.” Let this truth awaken your heart, so that faith may never be empty ritual, but living fire. And may those who lead us in prayer also lead us in protection of the earth, uniting the sacred and the practical into one heroic path of love and service.