Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Melbourne (Agenzia Fides) – The Church in Australia has asked Parliament to take a firmer stance against the death penalty in the debate on the issue. As the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) of the Australian Bishops explains, the Catholics are the ones who have asked the government to take a firmer stance in defense of life, especially regarding the death penalty.
Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, President of the ACSJC, says that the debate in Parliament gives all the Australian politicians of all the parties to confirm their “no” to capital punishment in Australia and join the movement in favor of a universal abolition of the practice.
Australia had already prohibited the death penalty in its territory, how ever in order for the decision to be final, it needs to be incorporated into the national law, so that no other future government administration could reintroduce capital punishment into the country. The Church says that this would send a clear sign to the international community, from Australia, Bishop Saunders said, affirming that the country should take a firm stance against the death penalty both inside its own borders and outside, uniting itself to the campaign for universal abolition. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2008)
