OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - “No to the death penalty”: Pontifical Mission Societies Australia supports world campaign to abolish capital punishment

Tuesday, 6 December 2005

Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - “Australia should be more committed to saying NO to the death penalty and YES to life” said Fr Terry Bell, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Australia.
He said that after recent public anti-capital punishment demonstrations in more than 300 cities in Europe and the United States, Australian cities should do their part. In Asia, there have been steps made towards abolishing the death penalty in Korea, Japan and Taiwan with significant changes in public opinion and legislation.“It would be wonderful if Australians were to join or organise similar events to say NO to the death penalty and underline the supreme value of human life”, said Fr Bell.
Australia abolished the death penalty in 1984 a voted in favour of a resolution to abolish the death penalty passed by the UN Commission for Human Rights
Fr Bell mentions the plight of Vietnamese born Australian Van Nguyen, executed in Singapore on 2 December this year, a case which gave rise to protests and clamour.
The encyclical of John Paul II “Gospel of Life”, Bell said, reminded us once again that in our day capital punishment was basically unnecessary and unjustified.
“The Bible is often selectively quoted in this debate and has been used by both sides to justify their beliefs ”, Fr. Bell said. “However I cannot imagine that if Jesus were here today he would support the death penalty. The commandment: ‘you shall not kill’ is not open for too much interpretation. Instead of revenge, the Christian is called to show mercy and forgiveness”. The Pontifical Mission Societies in Australia are committed to supporting the international campaign to abolish the death penalty .
(Agenzia Fides 6/12/2005 righe 25 parole 256)


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