Faith Matters - The Church Program

The Amazon River's water level has dropped 12 meters. Brother Ludwig is relieved that the rains haven’t started yet and that he can still visit the fishing families on dry land. For months they can only be reached by boat. The missionary is trying to save them from disaster. Although they have been living on a tributary of the Amazon for three decades, they are going to be displaced by an enormous harbor project. The people here don’t officially own the land, so they are being evicted. Brother Ludwig and his colleagues are fighting in their behalf so that they might at least receive some compensation. Otherwise it will result in their financial ruin.

Brother Ludwig is a Divine Word Missionary, who has been living in Brazil for thirty years. All that time, the Belgian-born brother has been fighting for social justice and against the destruction of the forests. He perceives his mission to be more than supporting the subsistence farmers. He is proclaiming a message that the Earth is our common home. ‘Whoever destroys the environment,’ he warns, ‘sins against future generations.’ And although the deforestation continues, he is confident that his message is gradually getting through. ‘Some of my people have understood!’ he says.