He said the world faces problems of Biblical proportion. Among the most important issue is bringing the world’s populations out of poverty. One of out every 16 verses in the Bible, he said, deals with caring for the poor. Yet too many Christians forget that helping the poor was such an important focus of Jesus’ message, he said.

He said Christians should be very concerned about environmental abuses. Speaking on a warm afternoon one day before the end of winter, he said there is no question that the Earth is suffering from global warming.

He also said Christians should support universal health care.

“Jesus did not help just the sick who could afford to pay for it,” he said.