Bishops in India Promote Green Energy
15 Jun 2012 – By Anto Akkara
BANGALORE, India (CNS) — The Catholic
Church in Kerala state has adopted a new conservation
policy to help fight a “looming environment crisis.”
At the end of its early June assembly, the Kerala
Catholic Bishops’ Council adopted “Toward Green
Meadows,” which calls for eco-friendly measures such as
the use of solar energy, rain harvesting, avoiding use of
personal transport, and efforts to counter the impact of
widespread deforestation in the state.
While the national population density in India is
382 people per square kilometer, it is 859 for Kerala,
according to the 2011 census. Studies have shown that the
state’s primary forests are losing an average of more than
12,300 acres per year because of exploitation.
The new policy calls for raising the consciousness
of the faithful to confess “sins against nature.” It suggests
that seminaries and catechism classes promote “ecospirituality,
nature conservation and waste management.”
“We are focusing on the spiritual dimension of the
environmental problem. Once the people are made aware
of it, it will certainly have a big impact in their everyday
lives,” said Syro-Malabar Archbishop Andrews Thazhath
of Trichur, president of the bishops’ council.
The new policy also recommends curbing
“polluting fireworks and extravagant illuminations” that
are an integral part of parish feast celebrations in the state.
“It is not easy to enforce it immediately.
Gradually, the growing awareness will have its impact,”
Archbishop Thazhath said.
Tags: India Kerala Thomas Christians