Bishops “not defeated” despite passage of death penalty bill at the House

March 7, 2017

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said it is unfortunate the House of Representatives has “given its consent for the State to kill” in passing the death penalty bill on third reading Tuesday night.

“We, your bishops, are overcome with grief but we are not defeated nor shall we be silenced,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, in a statement.

“In the midst of Lent, we prepare to celebrate the triumph of Life over Death. And while we grieve that the Lower House has voted for death, our faith assures us that Life will triumph,” said Villegas.

Villegas called on the “Catholic faithful and all Filipinos, who stand for life, to continue the spirited opposition to the death penalty.”

“We urge Catholic lawyers, judges, and jurists to allow the gentleness of the Gospel of Life to illumine their reading and application of the law, so that their service to society as teachers and agents of the law and of justice may bring life,” said Villegas. DMS