( CNN ) -- Brazil 's Catholic Church is the latest to publicly oppose a controversial revamping of the country 's `` Forest Code , '' which activists say would cause an environmental disaster . The bill , which was approved by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and is now before the Senate , would rewrite some of the rules regarding protected areas , grant amnesty to illegal deforestation that occurred before July 2008 , and give states greater control over preservation management . Supporters say that the bill will help landowners , especially small ones -- a large number of whom currently violate existing conservation laws . By changing the way that land set aside for preservation is calculated , it would help many get back within the law . But opponents say easing deforestation laws will give a greenlight to developers and loggers to fell more of the Amazon Rainforest . On Friday , Brazil 's Catholic Church announced that it would count on its 12,000 parishes to circulate a petition against the reforms , the state-run Agencia Brasil news agency reported . `` Our main concern is the impact and consequences of a law of this size on people 's lives and the environment , '' the church said in a statement . `` We urge our communities to participate in the process of reform of the Forest Code , mobilizing social forces and promoting a petition against the devastation , '' the statement said . Last year , the church was able to collect more than 1 million signatures on a petition regarding another piece of legislation , Agencia Brasil reported . Once again , the church said it 's goal with the Forest Code petition is to foment public discussion on the proposed bill .
The Senate is considering changes to the country 's Criminal Code . The church will start a survey among its 12,000 members . They fear that the changes will lead to rainforest destruction .