(June 09,2010) The Churches in Kerala, have launched several programs to increase
the green cover in the southern Indian state and check global warming. The Malankara
Syrian Orthodox Church, which is observing June as an “eco-friendly” month, recently
set up an ecological commission and plans to distribute 100,000 trees in its parishes. The
Syro-Malabar Church will also hold a meeting in Kochi in August, to discuss the present
ecological problems in depth, said spokesperson Father Paul Thelakat. “The Catholic
Church is very concerned about the ecological issues that threaten this planet,” he
said, adding that the present generation is polluting the air, water and earth beyond
repair. The Syro-Malabar Church had already launched a program to foster environment
sensitivity among its members last year. The Church is committed to promoting a “green
spirituality” among the people, said Bishop Mathew Arackal of Kanjirapally, who heads
the program. Latin-rite Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum has
also appealed to his flock to adopt a green spirituality.