deforestation Archives

Pope at synod’s close: Don’t focus on Church debates but the Amazon
- Amazon synod
- Oct 26, 2019
Bringing the Oct. 6-27 Synod of Bishops on the Amazon to a close, Pope Francis said Saturday that it’s important not to focus on intra-ecclesial debates but on the fate of the Amazon rainforest and its peoples.
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Synod drama features married priests, women deacons and ‘ecological sins’
- Amazon synod
- Oct 9, 2019
“There is no other option [to more married priests]. The indigenous people don’t understand celibacy, they say that very openly and I see it,” said Retired Bishop Erwin Kräutler of Xingu, Brazil.
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New report on Amazon mafias draws on church-collected data on rural violence
- Amazon synod
- Sep 18, 2019
A new Human Rights Watch report, titled “Rainforest Mafias,” draws on data collected by the Pastoral Land Commission, a non-profit group founded by progressive sectors of the Brazilian Catholic Church which has issued an annual report on human rights violations in rural sectors of the country since 1985.
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Pope warns Madagascar that deforestation threatens both people and planet

“Your lovely island of Madagascar is rich in plant and animal biodiversity, yet this treasure is especially threatened by excessive deforestation, from which some profit,” Francis said during a speech to local authorities including president Andry Rajoelina.