Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Just another right-wing nutcase
DEATH PENALTY WON'T DEFEAT TERRORISM, SAYS JOHN PAUL II
Urges an Emphasis on Respect for Life
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says that
terrorism is not combated with the death penalty but, on the contrary, by
the promotion of respect for the dignity of the human person.
The Pope expressed this today when receiving the credentials of the new
ambassador of the Philippines to the Holy See, Leonida Vera, until now the
president of Lever Properties Corporation and a member of the Executive
Council of Caritas-Manila.
In his English-language address, the Holy Father appealed to all parties
in the Philippines "to end the terrorism which continues to cause so much
suffering to the civilian population, and to embrace the path of dialogue
which alone will enable the people of the region to create a society that
guarantees justice, peace and harmony for all."
"Accordingly, it is essential that the state continue to promote dialogue
in society, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation among the
various religions," the Pope continued.
"This process is most effective when all levels of public education
include curricular components that help people to recognize the value of
tolerance and encourage them to strive towards a culture based on
authentic peace and justice," he said.
"We can together eliminate the social and cultural causes of terrorism by
teaching the greatness and dignity of the human person, and by spreading a
clearer sense of the oneness of the human family," the Holy Father added.
After appealing for respect of the Philippine Constitution, "which
explicitly recognizes the sanctity of family life and the protection of
the unborn from the moment of conception," the Pope reiterated his
opposition to the death penalty.
"Aware that the issue of capital punishment and its use has again become
an important topic in your national debate, I would reiterate that the
ends of justice in today's world seem better served by not resorting to
the death penalty," he said.
"Modern society in fact has the means of effectively suppressing crime by
rendering criminals harmless without definitively denying them the chance
to reform," he said, repeating a teaching he articulated in his encyclical
"Evangelium Vitae."
He added: "While civil societies have a duty to be just, they also have an
obligation to be merciful." ZE04041931
Urges an Emphasis on Respect for Life
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says that
terrorism is not combated with the death penalty but, on the contrary, by
the promotion of respect for the dignity of the human person.
The Pope expressed this today when receiving the credentials of the new
ambassador of the Philippines to the Holy See, Leonida Vera, until now the
president of Lever Properties Corporation and a member of the Executive
Council of Caritas-Manila.
In his English-language address, the Holy Father appealed to all parties
in the Philippines "to end the terrorism which continues to cause so much
suffering to the civilian population, and to embrace the path of dialogue
which alone will enable the people of the region to create a society that
guarantees justice, peace and harmony for all."
"Accordingly, it is essential that the state continue to promote dialogue
in society, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation among the
various religions," the Pope continued.
"This process is most effective when all levels of public education
include curricular components that help people to recognize the value of
tolerance and encourage them to strive towards a culture based on
authentic peace and justice," he said.
"We can together eliminate the social and cultural causes of terrorism by
teaching the greatness and dignity of the human person, and by spreading a
clearer sense of the oneness of the human family," the Holy Father added.
After appealing for respect of the Philippine Constitution, "which
explicitly recognizes the sanctity of family life and the protection of
the unborn from the moment of conception," the Pope reiterated his
opposition to the death penalty.
"Aware that the issue of capital punishment and its use has again become
an important topic in your national debate, I would reiterate that the
ends of justice in today's world seem better served by not resorting to
the death penalty," he said.
"Modern society in fact has the means of effectively suppressing crime by
rendering criminals harmless without definitively denying them the chance
to reform," he said, repeating a teaching he articulated in his encyclical
"Evangelium Vitae."
He added: "While civil societies have a duty to be just, they also have an
obligation to be merciful." ZE04041931
