杏MAP导航

A Filipino Catholic Church official has welcomed the change made by 杏MAP导航 Francis to the Catechism of the Catholic Church declaring death penalty as 鈥渋nadmissible鈥�, and has reiterated the call by the country鈥檚 Catholic Church against the government鈥檚 plan to bring back capital punishment.

Pro-life Church

鈥淭he purpose of punishment is rehabilitation and not vengeance,鈥� stressed Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops鈥� Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).  鈥淒eath is totally unacceptable because there are now means to rehabilitate those who commit crime while protecting the community,鈥� he said in an interview on Radio Veritas of Manila Archdiocese.

The Vatican鈥檚 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced on August 2 that 杏MAP导航 Francis approved a revision in the Catechism saying  that the light of the Gospel, the Church teaches that 鈥渢he death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.

Previously, the Catechism said the Church didn't exclude recourse to capital punishment "if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor." 

The CBCP鈥檚 Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care also welcomed 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� decision to revise the Catechism and its explanation of the Church鈥檚 teaching on the capital punishment.

Mr. Rodolfo Diamante, Executive Secretary of ECPPC, said they have long been pushing for such a revision.  鈥淚t should never be said, especially in the teachings of the Church, that death penalty is justifiable,鈥� he said.

鈥淚f you will be faithful of reading the Scriptures, God鈥檚 compassion towards the people, especially to the weak, is really unconditional,鈥� Diamante said.

Government pushing for revival of death penalty

In February year, the House of Representatives approved the death penalty bill for drug-related offenses but a similar measure has remained pending at the Senate.           

Manny Pacquiao, popular Filipino professional boxer and politician, currently serving as a senator, has been calling for the revival of the death penalty, citing the Bible.   Diamante has lashed out at him saying he was misleading the people with his wrong interpretation of the Bible.

In March 2017, the CBCP issued a pastoral statement calling for the abolition of capital punishment 鈥渙ne and for all鈥� saying 鈥淛esus was never an advocate of any form of 鈥渓egal killing鈥�.  (Source: CBCP News)