India's moral theologians call to protect environment

(Nov.02,2010) India’s moral theologians have called for concerted action to protect and promote the environment. Some 35 theologians from all over India made the call at their recent annual meeting held at Nava Spoorthi Kendra, Bangalore, Karnataka State. They said all must work together to ward off the ecological crises that can seriously affect human existence.
Fr. Charles Irudayam, the Executive Secretary of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Development of the CBCI, Catholic Bishops Conference of India, said the annual meeting was an important opportunity to discuss emerging issues and concerns in the ethical and moral fields. Some of the topics discussed were “The major ecological issues of India”; “Re-discovering Christian eco-ethics”; and the “Human Face of Ecology”. St. Ephrem and St. Francis of Assisi were presented as models of such deep rooted Christian contemplation in harmony with nature and environment.
The participants underlined the possibility of contributing both at practical and theoretical levels. On the practical level, they said actions can stem from one’s own convictions, such as - acts of personal cleanliness, avoiding the use of plastics, encouraging the value of manual work etc. On the theoretical level, they said one could write articles, organize and conduct seminars and conferences, and hold discussions with various groups, in order to help form people’s attitudes. The theme chosen for the next annual meeting is “ Doing ethics in the public square.”