Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Maumere (Agenzia Fides) - “The campaign to abolish capital punishment has nothing to do with religion”, said Bishop Vincentius Sensi of Maumere diocese of Flores, the home of Domingus Da Silva, one of the three Indonesian Catholics executed on 22 September in Palu. The local community brought the body back and a funeral Mass was celebrated in the local cathedral filled to capacity with local people still visibly dismayed who prayed with deep devotion.
“We are deeply saddened by the outcome. Over the past months we have raised our voices and tried in every way to make the government changed its mind. We were not struggling simply to save the lives of three Catholic, our battle is a battle for life, against the death penalty for anyone. This is a battle we will continue side by side with our Muslim brothers and sisters” the Bishop told Fides.
The Bishop said he wonders why “the government had the men executed so quickly. There are many other people who have been waiting for execution for much longer. This looks like injustice and we want the international community to know. The government demonstrated its weakness and appears to have given way to pressure from extremists. In our diocese and all over the country Christians and Muslims have campaigned together for the abolition of the death penalty. This campaign has nothing to do with religion. Every life is precious. Our campaign is to save all lives”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2006 righe 28 parole 287)
