The Mumbai doctor is in Rome for the meeting of the Pontifical Academy for Life. With respect to global responsibility, "Asking now poorer nations not to develop in the name of global warming and greenhouse gases is not fair”. The Diocesan Human Life Committee in Mumbai seeks to raise “the conscience level of youths to be heralds and prolife witnesses."
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – "The Church in India works in an altruistic manner for the human dignity of marginalised, tribal people, Dalits, girls, women and those with special needs, without discrimination of caste or creed,” said Pascoal Carvalho, a medical doctor who is a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, speaking to AsiaNews.
The Mumbai-based doctor is currently in Rome to attend the meeting of the Academy that ends today, centred on the theme "Equal beginnings. But then? A global responsibility”.
Yesterday he addressed the conference, noting that "There is no historically equal beginnings because of colonisation. Some were richer than others. The rich continue to exploit and continue to be rich.” For this reason, “Asking now poorer nations not to develop in the name of global warming and greenhouse gases is not fair”.
“We need energy to produce wealth to distribute to the poor. To create even basic livelihood, we need energy. So, when we say global responsibility, it is dangerous because poorer nations’ right to develop has to respected.”
The doctor shares the view Pope Francis presents in his message to the participants about, among other things, the sacredness of human life and of a human ecology that considers "ethical and spiritual quality of life in all its phases.”
The “Catholic Church in India is foremost in providing human dignity to the poorest of the poor and those on the peripheries of society. Through its vast apostolates of education and health care in the remotest rural areas throughout the length and breadth of the multicultural, multireligious Indian society, the Catholic Church works selflessly for the human dignity of the marginalised, tribal people, Dalits and girls and women and those with special need without discrimination of caste of creed.”
For Dr Carvalho, Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), is the "leading voice for the migrants, Dalits and tribal people, and repeatedly expresses his concern for girls and women and their safety.” He is "a tireless defender of human life, the unborn and the elderly. Cardinal Oswald is a keen defender of the environment and care for creation.”
By “giving human dignity to those enslaved by drugs and alcohol is a priority, through the various addiction and counselling centres, Cardinal Gracias seeks to bring human dignity to all society, and this helps also in nation building."
Speaking about his experience as a member of the Diocesan Human Life Committee (DHLC), Dr Carvalho noted that the latter “is a strong advocate of the culture of life and is proactive in promoting life in all spheres from the unborn to those in need of palliative care. Memorials to the unborn are installed in various church compounds, where women who suffer the scars of abortion may find healing and peace.”
"The DHLC in its culture of life has a special focus on youth, organising seminars at confirmation classes and at the school level, advocating life in all its forms, raising the conscience level of youths to be heralds and prolife witnesses."