MANILA (UCAN): “Pope Francis has clearly and unequivocally exhorted … capital punishment is an offense against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person … and does not render justice to the victims but rather fosters vengeance,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said in an August 6 statement.
The CBCP spoke out just as the Philippine Congress began deliberating whether or not to revive the death penalty less than two weeks after the president, Rodrigo Duterte, said he wanted to reinstate capital punishment in his State of the Nation Address.
One lawmaker, Robert Ace Barbers, said death penalty critics must focus on the rights of victims not just criminals.
“Unfortunately, while they (critics) talk about the human rights of offenders, they remarkably skip talking about and defending the human rights of the victims,” he said in a statement.
However, the Philippine bishops disagreed, saying the death penalty is against the dignity of a person, no matter how evil a criminal was thought to be.
“The death penalty violates the inherent dignity of a person, which is not lost despite the commission of a crime. No person, no matter how evil … is beyond reformation,” the CBCP statement said.
They reminded people of Pope Francis’ letter to all the world’s bishops in which he told them that capital punishment was not a tool for justice but for vengeance.
The bishops also pointed out that studies have found no proof that it deters crime. “On the contrary, a 2009 study found out that the consensus among criminologists is that the death penalty does not add any significant deterrent effect above that of long-term imprisonment,” said the bishops adding that true justice is restorative rather than punitive in nature.
The CBCP statement noted, “The death penalty is tilted against the most vulnerable sectors of society, the marginalised and the poor. Experience shows that most, if not all, persons meted the death penalty are the poor and uneducated who cannot afford prominent lawyers to defend them.”
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In a statement also issued on August 6, Bishop Julito Cortes of Dumaguete, the central Philippines said, “We have a national leadership fixated with the death penalty, charter change and passing an anti-terror bill. Hunger is a far less terrifying threat to our people.”
He said that Duterte, must focus on policies that will enable people to survive the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic instead of politicking and pushing for the death penalty during a health crisis.
The Philippines has seen enough fatalities and infected people caused by Covid-19, surpassing China’s 84,565 cases, the bishop added.
As of August 11, Worldometers reported that the Philippines had 136,638 total Covid-19 cases— 66,185 of which are active, 2,294 deaths and 68,159 recoveries.
Doctors and nurses have said the Philippines is losing its battle with the virus because health workers were exhausted and needed a break.
“When many of us are concerned about living, we heard somebody push for the passing of the death penalty, as if the deaths caused by the virus, by tokhang (extrajudicial killings) and the many unsolved killings in the country are not enough deaths,” Bishop Cortes said.
He also reminded priests of their prophetic role during this time of crisis in proclaiming the Good News.
“As prophets, we teach what is good to the laws of God. Anything that is contrary to that, we have the obligation to teach, to preach and, if necessary, to correct,” Bishop Cortes said.
He said that pointing out and correcting social issues that were morally inconsistent with the teachings of the Church were priestly.
“There is no better time to show the world that we are God’s anointed ones by giving ourselves more fully to the people we have been tasked to serve,” the bishop added.
As a final note, the bishop urged Duterte to listen more the cries of the people, saying people’s health was more important than any political agenda.
“We are hoping that people could be listened to more by our government leaders instead of ramming down our throats exercises like changing the constitution. The administration must listen to the people because the people are the true victims of this virus and injustice,” Bishop Cortes said.
He also said that true listening would happen if Duterte would talk less and listen more.
“One of the essential things or fruits of dialogue was harmony or peace. This is only possible if parties listen,” Bishop Cortes said.
