Even if we were to assume, arguendo, that fossil fuel consumption is responsible for all of the evils testified to in this op-ed, would our pious authors deny the great social benefits that have been derived because of its extraction?

In the 1960's & 1970's life expectancy in rural Alaska was dismal. In fact, it was on par with what we see today in many sub-Saharan African nations. It's only because of the wealth generated by fossil fuel extraction that those standards have risen to where they are at least getting closer to the rest of the state and nation. 

That same resource extraction also enabled the creation of our Permanent Fund along wth funding nearly 90% of our state budget over the past 40 years. How many lives have benefitted and been enriched as a result? And how many of your parishioners operate petroleum powered vehicles, fly on airplanes, or heat their homes with heating oil or natural gas? Don't be like the virgins in Matthew 25:3.