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Itinuturing ni Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas na ang mga pagkilos na muling buhayin ang death penalty o parusang bitay sa Pilipinas ay patunay na ilan sa mga Filipino ay natatakot o “afraid of mercy”.
Sa kanyang mensahe sa day-2 ng WACOM 4 sa University of Sto.Tomas, tinukoy ni Archbishop Villegas ang kahirapan na makita ang habag, “the essence of Christianity”.
Binigyan diin ni Archbishop Villegas na sa halip na ipakita ang habag at awa sa kapwa ay umiiral laganap ang karahasan, galit, paghihigante at death penalty.
“We need mercy yet we are afraid to show mercy. Instead of mercy, there is terror. Instead of mercy, there is anger. Instead of mercy, there is death penalty. Instead of mercy, there is revenge,”bahagi ng statement ni Archbishop Villegas.
Inihayag ng Arsobispo na natatakot tayong ipakita ang habag sa kapwa dahil hindi pa tayo handang maging “merciful” sa kapwa.
“Why?Because we are afraid to look at mercy in the eyes. We are afraid that mercy will challenge us to be merciful and we are not ready!”pahayag ng Arsobispo
Binigyan diin ni Archbishop Villegas na nagiging hadlang sa tao na magkaroon ng habag at manahimik ay dahil sa takot ng kritisismo at pagbatikos.
“Among the signs that prevents people from being merciful is the fear of being opposed. People will fight evil, it will strike them back “and so we keep quiet in the caves of our security and safety” to avoid criticisms. But brothers and sisters in Christ, the destiny of people who show mercy is martyrdom. And martyrdom is a great act of mercy,”paglilinaw ni Archbishop Villegas
Kaugnay nito, hinamon ng CBCP President ang mga mananampalataya na huwag matakot ipakita at ipadama ang “Gospel of mercy” upang mataranta ang mga nagsusulong ng culture of death sa bansa.
“If there’s no greater love than to die for a beloved, there is no greater act of mercy than to die for those who do not even ask for our mercy because that is how God dealt with us.Do not be afraid of the cross. Do not be afraid of becoming martyrs for mercy because that is the destiny of those who follow the Divine Mercy,”diin ng Arsobispo.
Iginigiit ni Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynal Umali, chairman ng House Committee on Justice na kabilang ang death penalty sa priority bills na inaasahan nilang maisasabatas sa Mayo, 2017.
Sa kasalukuyan, hati naman ang mga Senador sa panukalang death penalty na isa sa mga pangako ng Pangulong Duterte noong campaign period.
