It is wonderful that our bishops have finally, unequivocally and courageously spoken against extrajudicial killings and the death penalty. Speaking truth to power, they guide the faithful on how to respond to these two crucial issues.
In its most recent Pastoral Letter, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, while recognizing the problem of illegal drugs, expressed grave concern over the unacceptable solution by this government to kill suspected drug users and pushers. The Pastoral Letter adds: “An additional cause of concern is the reign of terror in many places of the poor. Many are killed not because of drugs. Those who kill them are not brought to account. An even greater cause of concern is the indifference of many to this kind of wrong.
The CBCP deplores the indifference to this “reign of terror,” considered as normal, and, even worse, something that (according to them) needs to be done. The Letter emphasizes that change must be guided by truth and justice; that the life of every person comes from God and the opportunity to change is never lost in every person. And to destroy one’s own life and the life of another, is a grave sin and does evil to society.
The Bishops reiterate basic teachings of the Catholic Church, teachings “rooted in our being human, our being Filipino, and our being Christian”. These are:
“1. The life of every person comes from God. It is he who gives it, and it is he alone who can take it back. Not even the government has a right to kill life because it is only God’s steward and not the owner of life.
2. The opportunity to change is never lost in every person. This is because God is merciful, as our Holy Father Pope Francis repeatedly teaches . . .
3. To destroy one’s own life and the life of another, is a grave sin and does evil to society. The use of drugs is a sign that a person no longer values his own life, and endangers the lives of others. We must all work together to solve the drug problem and work for the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
4. Every person has a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Society has ways and processes to catch, prove guilty and punish perpetrators of crimes. This process must be followed, especially by agents of the law.
5. Any action that harms another (seriously) is a grave sin. To push drugs is a grave sin as is killing (except in self-defense). We cannot correct a wrong by doing another wrong. A good purpose is not a justification for using evil means. It is good to remove the drug problem, but to kill in order to achieve this is also wrong.
6. The deep root of the drug problem and criminality is the poverty of the majority, the destruction of the family and corruption in society. The step we have to take is to overcome poverty, especially through the giving of permanent work and sufficient wages to workers. Let us strengthen and carry forward the unity and love of the family members. Let us not allow any law that destroys the unity of families. We must also give priority to reforming rogue policemen and corrupt judges. The excessively slow adjudication of court cases is one big reason for the spread of criminality. Often it is the poor who suffer from this system. We also call upon elected politicians to serve the common good of the people and not their own interests.
7. To consent and to keep silent in front of evil is to be an accomplice to it. If we neglect the drug addicts and pushers we have become part of the drug problem. If we consent or allow the killing of suspected drug addicts, we shall also be responsible for their deaths.”
In another pastoral letter, this time for the Archdiocese of Manila but relevant to all of us, Cardinal Chito Tagle offers the following reasons for opposing the death penalty as guides for reflection by the faithful:
“1. Studies worldwide show that the death penalty has not lessened violent crimes. The threat of punishment by death has not reduced criminality. The best approach is to address positively and comprehensively the roots of crime of which offenders have probably been victims themselves: the loss of moral values, injustice, inequality, poverty, lack of access to food, education, jobs and housing, proliferation of weapons, drugs, pornography, loss of respect for sexuality, and many others. The death penalty has not reduced crime because it does not solve criminality from its roots. To help solve these roots of criminality, the Church and the state need to protect and strengthen the basic unit of society, which is the family.
2. There is a danger that the death penalty might legitimize the use of violence to deal with very wrongdoing. We affirm that victims of crimes need justice and healing. An honest and upright judicial and penal system assures the victims and society of protection and renewal. There is real danger that the death penalty might be applied to an innocent person. We need to reform institutions so they would safeguard justice while preventing the spread of a culture of violence. Penalties are not imposed for vengeance but for the correction of offenders and the good of society. A culture of violence dehumanizes. A culture of justice, integrity, and hope heals.
3. As Christians we believe that human life is God´s gift. Every human being is created in God´s image and likeness. Every human being is saved by Jesus Christ. This is the reason for forgiveness, hope and salvation. This is the reason why an ethic of life, a culture of life, is inconsistent with abortion, euthanasia, human trafficking, mutilation, and violence against innocent and vulnerable persons. Before God the source of life, we are humble. We cannot pretend to be gods.”
The message is clear. The Church is urging the faithful to wake up from their stupor and indifference, and to take a more vigorous and pro-active course in fighting the anti-life culture manifested by the extrajudicial killings and the proposal to reimpose the death penalty.
With these pastoral letters, the Catholic Church is once again taking on its principal, traditional and ancient role as mother, teacher and family. Surely, as the Church leadership grapples with the moral and social issues presented by this presidency and the society at large, it would be doing its people grave disservice unless it remains faithful to its nature and role to, as the catechism says, “announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls.”
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