Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, who serves as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay, is a passionate and experienced environmentalist who has been actively involved in the field for more than two decades. He was quick to respond to Pope Francis’s call to protect the planet, as outlined in Laudato Si, and his archdiocese was among the first to embrace this message. As part of his efforts to promote environmental awareness and sustainability, Bishop Allwyn launched the ‘Green Diocese’ project in Mumbai. In his interview with Janina Gomes, Bishop Allwyn expresses his strong commitment to the cause of caring for our planet and making it a shared home for all.
- Pope Francis’ Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ has created far reaching awareness in the Universal Church about the need to take concrete steps to stop the disastrous consequences of climate change. How has the Church in India spread this awareness amongst the faithful?
Ever since ‘Laudato Si’ was released in 2015, ecological consciousness and integral ecology are now being spoken about from the pulpit. The Church in India has spread awareness through several homilies, sessions, workshops, and retreats based on the encyclical. We have also prepared training material to take the message of ‘Laudato Si’ to formators and to the grassroots. I would like to add that ‘Laudato Si’ is not simply about climate change – in fact the term climate change appears just eleven times in the entire text, but approaches the ecological crisis holistically. Pope Francis correctly identifies that the environmental and social crises are not two distinct, but one complex problem. That being said, I wonder how many lay faithful would have actually heard about ‘Laudato Si’, though many have taken up living more sustainably. Thus, we in the Church continue with our awareness sessions, and are looking to deepen concrete actions.
- What concrete steps have been taken by the Indian Church to match actions with words towards meeting its goals?
Many churches have set up parish green teams or eco-cells which take up waste segregation and manage it – including composting, sustainable living and doing away with flex and other single use plastics in a big way. Where funds are available, we have gone in for solar energy, and rainwater harvesting where feasible. In rural areas, Caritas India and other church associated groups have been involved in climate resilient agriculture and in sanitation projects. Tree plantation has also been taken up. We have had conferences and workshops at national, regional and local levels. The bishops have demonstrated their understanding of the need for integral ecology and the urgency of caring for our common home. The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) established the Commission for Ecology in 2019, and a few months ago, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) which comprises all three rites in India, set up an Office of Environment and Climate Change. The Conference of Religious India (CRI) has also been heavily involved, ensuring that the religious are ably conscientised and can lead by example.
- What was the reason for starting the Climate Change Desk in Asia?
The German funding agency MISEREOR was very keen to start awareness and action on climate change, particularly among the various Bishops’ Conferences in Asia. I recall at that time, some fifteen years or so ago, while we were aware of climate change and its consequences, we didn’t really connect it with our faith as such, or even to the different needs of the Global South. But MISEREOR gave us the thrust we did not know we needed at the time, and eventually the Climate Change Desk was set up as part of the Office of Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in 2015.
- What steps has it taken by its activities across different countries in Asia?
All over Asia, the FABC Office of Human Development / Climate Change Desk has conducted Training of Trainers. We share ecological best practices at regional conferences and through our bulletin; we’ve had seminars for business persons in India and Thailand. We have also looked into incorporating climate change education as part of the formation curriculum in seminaries. I would also say, we are heavily involved in integral ecology, given that the thrust of the Office of Human Development also encompasses social issues such as migrants, justice and peace, and so on.
- What fruits have these activities borne?
Ecological consciousness to a much larger extent than ever before. Environmental issues were always perceived as being in the sphere of government policy and civil society action, despite caring for creation being a vital aspect of Catholic Social Teaching. Now we are highlighting creation and eco-spirituality, and the link between our faith and caring for creation is well-established. Many in the church hierarchy are supportive of, and are willing to take up ecological initiatives. In so many places, the lay faithful push their parish priest to care for creation.
- What have the challenges been from both outside and inside with coordinating so many national conferences?
Mainly the church hierarchy has competing priorities – evangelisation, faith formation and other social action issues; so ecological action may not get taken up in the necessary magnitude. There may not be enough capacity building or adequate funding and personnel. We also have to be careful about our adaptation needs being overshadowed by mitigation-centric approaches of the Global North.
- What are the dreams of the Asian Church for the future?
The dream is for a just and resilient Asia – including making and being a green Church in the whole of Asia.
- Apart from your involvement with the Asian Desk, what are the other responsibilities you have as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay?
I am Bishop In-Charge of the Social Apostolate – Justice and Peace Commission, Archdiocesan Office for Environment, Health Commission, Labour Commission,
Bishop In-Charge of Thane, Raigad and Navi Mumbai Deaneries, Western Regional Bishops’ Council and Chairperson of the Commission for Migrants
- Can you tell us something about how you have helped the Church in Bombay to grow?
In the Church we always speak of responding to the signs of the times. Pope Francis talks about the shepherds having the smell of the sheep, of taking the church outside to the peripheries . I would like to say that I have been doing so for more than forty years in the Archdiocese of Bombay. I have helped set up centres for community organisation (CCOs) in various parishes; been involved in social spirituality and activism – particularly the defence of human rights; in the Prison Ministry and Justice and Peace Commission. In Uttan, I was with the people and participated in dumping ground protests. Cardinal Gracias established the Archdiocesan Office for Environment in 2013 and appointed me the head .Now as Bishop In-Charge, I am encouraging the youth to get involved.
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Having adopted ‘Care for Creation’ as my motto, I wish to make the world a greener place – at least within my sphere of influence. I am already known as a ‘green’ bishop, but much remains to be done and I continue to care for creation, however possible.
Bishop Allwyn D’Silva
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