Catholic Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) has called on governments and citizens in the region to work towards the abolition of the death penalty.
The Bishops issued a statement on the matter during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which is a period of prayer in the Roman Catholic calendar held from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2015, to the Feast of Christ the King to be held on November 20, 2016.
Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire read a statement on behalf of the Bishops, pointing out that all life is a gift from God and is sacred.
“We believe that each human being has inherent dignity because we are all created in God’s image and likeness – Genesis 1:26 and Ephesians 2:10,” he said. “Therefore we should protect and defend human life at all stages of development and in all circumstances.”
He noted that the Bishops are appalled by the rise in violent crimes and while they express solidarity with victims and those affected by it, they believe restorative justice is the best approach.
“We urge politicians and citizens in our region to abolish capital punishment or the death penalty and embrace a restorative justice approach to crime and violence,” he noted. “A restorative justice approach focuses on holding the offender accountable in a more meaningful way and helping to achieve a sense of healing for both victims and the community. It embraces socialization, rehabiliation, and reconciliation, rather than retribution and vengeance.”
Bishop Malzaire also said that all recent international studies and research show that “capital punishment does not act as a deterrent nor does it foster respect for life in our communities.”
Read full statment below.
Any religious organization that violates the word of God as the Roman Catholic Church does is Satanic.
What else could it be
Where in the Bible do they find support for calling a priest Father
Or for praying to Mary
Or for paying for Masses
Or for baptizing by sprinkling
Or for baptizing babies
Or for purgatory or limbo
Or for people being made ”saints” after they die
Or for praying to dead ”saints”
Or for believing that dead ”saints” in heaven can perform miracles on earth
Or for teaching that the faithful can buy God’s blessings with money or earn salvation by doing good works
Please read Isaiah 8:20
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Paragraph One.
How can you say I am mistaken when I said the same as you said
The Bible nowhere prohibits capital punishment. It was mandated in the Old Testament for murder. It is not mandated in the New Testament but neither is it prohibited.
In the New Testament God has delegated to human governments the responsibility to create laws suitable for their people for the places and times in which thy exist. We are to obey our rulers and the laws they hand down to us as long as these laws do not conflict with the commandments God has given us in the New Testament which is the perfect expression of God’s will for this age. Romans 13:1-4 and
The Acts 4:19, The Acts 5:29.
Paragraph Two.
Roman Catholic Churches display many graven images. They are part of their religious practice. The Bible forbids us to make graven images. They are not to be part of our worship. Such flagrant violation of the word of God shows this organization is Satanic. What else could it be :?:…
the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against an unjust aggressor.
This Catechism plainly show the Roman Catholic Church at that time was not opposed to capital punishment. If it is the church founded by Christ and led by the Holy Spirit how could it change from what was then its position regarding capital punishment to this new directive from the Vatican
Centuries ago the Catholic Church turned heretics over to the civil authorities to be executed. People caught with a Bible in their homes (unless it was a Latin Bible which they couldn’t read anyway) were burned at the stake. Millions of people all over Europe were murdered in various ways for disagreeing with the Catholic Church. This was not consistent at all with what the Vatican is saying now about the value of life and the arguments it has posted for opposing capital punishment.
The Catholic Church is able to hold its people by keeping them ignorant of the Bible and in the dark about the facts of history.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
The Bishops should explain to the killers that if they do not kill anyone, then no one will kill them. These killers show no mercy to their victims so why should they not expect the same fate as their victims. Some like to say that capital punishment is not a deterrent but how many of these murderers are repeat offenders? If they were removed from society after committing the first murder, the following victims would not have been killed.
If a murderer is a repeat offender this means he killed once and he killed again.
If he had been executed after he had killed the first time how can international studies possibly show capital punishment would not have been a deterrent
If a man murders and is hung how can he murder again? If he is not able to murder again does this not made the hanging a deterrent
Maybe I don’t know what DETERRENT means. Please educate me.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Don’t tell me life in prison can take the place of capital punishment.
(1) Life does not always mean life.
(a) What if life includes the possibility of parole?
(b) What if the convict escapes?
(c) What if the convict is pardoned?
It is so hypocritical for the Roman Catholic Church to take a position against capital punishment for the reasons it has posted. During what is referred to as the “middle ages” or the “dark ages” the Catholic Church turned heretics over to the civil authorities to be executed.
They burned at the stake people found with a Bible in their homes. Multiplied thousands of people were executed for disagreeing with the church.
Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Donald Hill.
(2) The convict can kill again in prison.
(3) The convict can himself be murdered in prison.
They always ‘call for this’ and ‘call for that’, but you never see these priests in the street protesting. You never see them writing letters to ask for pardon for those on death row. They just talk, talk, talk and in the meantime cover up their worldwide abuse of children which they are very good at. They get found out, they pray for forgiveness and then, go on to do it over and over and over again. Do not believe these hypocrites.
those same international studie claim that the death penalty is not a detrrent , International studies are now responsible for kids being able to disrespect teachers, prents and each other these days!
Why do we have to abide by those so called international studies? The fear of the death penalty has always been enough to keep violent crimes down decades ago. Now that we have copied the American style society and crime is rampant all over the island , here comes the church trying to regulate lifestyle. No death penalty mean that killers wont think twice about killing someone because they will get a bed to sleep on and free food at the taxpayers expense for the rest of their criminal life. The church needs to correct themselves before telling residents what is good and bad.
“International studies are now responsible for kids being able to disrespect teachers, prents and each other these days!”
Which ones?
So, what about the spiritual death penalty? We have a body and we also have a soul. If we are not taught the right from scripture; If we do nor repent and ask Christ to forgive us of our sins; If we neglect to accept Jesus as our Savior; If we do not live in love and harmony with our neighbors; If we do voo doo and obeah and hurt people, then the RCC to teach their “followers” that these neglects and habits could cause you to lose not just your body, but also your soul.
“Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire read a statement on behalf of the Bishops, pointing out that all life is a gift from God and is sacred”–News Article
Yes Sir, Bishop Gabrielle Malzaire, I agree to your suggestion that all “Life is a Gift from God is sacred”
Except that you have failed to describe–like the majority does –what is the condition of the Life that is from God; the is the flaw that mankind continue to live by, that flaw is the lack of knowledge of God and the live which He gives to us .
Let me show you a verse of the Scripture from the apostle Paul, to the church of Ephesus at Ephesians 5: 8-10, Paul says to the Church “For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Walk as Children of Light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)
I understand here, that the Life of man is the Light of the Soul we are called to walk with that condition of Life .
Genesis 1: 26 to support your claim of Life in man, but you forgotten what happened at Genesis 3, so that one of God’s greatest curse to man was through Adam, as God told him: “Dust you are and to dust you shall return” Verse 19
You have failed to teach your congregation that Life is in the Spirit and not in the body–Adam was sent away from the Garden of Eden because he denied Life ( the Likeness or Light ) that God breathed in him, when he agreed to rebel against his Maker with Lucifer–that wicked and evil Serpent Angel of the Garden of Eden.
Adam brought us, his Offspring, into this world in the state of darkness, dead to the Spirit,–right into today, therefore dead to Life, which is the Great Light in Love, the Nature of God.
Had it not been so, there would be no need for Ephesians 2: 8-9, which says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”.
At Ephesians 2: 10, which you mentioned, but not in its right context, the apostle Paul says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Notice the term: “CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS”! Now this kind of good works cannot be the work of murder, which would call for “CAPTIAL PUNISHMENT” or the “Death Penalty “, which is in question here.
Mr. Bishop Sir, a person with Life is walking in Love, for the glory of God, that person is one who is wandering among society creating havoc for his/her fellowmen; if there must be any protection it should be for the protection of those who are weaker and less advantaged among us–that is part of your job Sir
“We believe that each human being has inherent dignity” What dignity is in a person who decides to murder his/her fellowman? “Well the wages of sin is death”–God’s judgment, which no man can deny. Romans 6: 23
Amen! So, bad people can take the lives of others and then when they are found out, ask for forgiveness when the lives they have taken are gone FOREVER. How can that ever by just?
“Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Matthew 5.38). If you kill, you must be prepared to be punished by death.
By the way, the US military and its allies, including Israel, have inflicted death upon innocent civilians worldwide. Indeed, the President of the USA each ‘killing’ Tuesday, decides on which of the alleged enemies of the USA must be killed. The killing is carried out without any recourse to a judicial system which means that the victims may be innocent, or guilty. We will never know. See: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/14/obama-secret-kill-list-disposition-matrix
Why are the ‘Roman’ Catholic hypocrites and their fat Popeye not complaining about that? Why are they not actively seeking justice for the families and loved ones of those killed in this disgraceful way?
Yes Brother. Since the last world war, 92% of deaths in all kinds of conflicts in the world have been innocent men, women and children with the UN and its members taking the biscuit for all that. The same criminals that want to impose a world government upon us. No justice in the world today, may Jesus Christ the son of God help us.
By the way, in 2005 a 27 year old Brazilian young man, Jean Charles De Menezes, was apprehended by police forces in the UK and shot more than 7 times in the head by British police. He was totally innocent of any crime and despite that NO ONE has been punished. Why isn’t the Pope and his mates bleating about that and all the civilian deaths perpetrated by his vassels.
Recent Popes have called for the abolition of the death penalty.This is also because of the mercy of God.
Crimes/murders are increasing. Those countries will have to build bigger prisons to put them in.
God is not taught in government-operated schools in many countries. Students are not taught to respect others. Instead, some of those schools teach sex education and it is OK to be gay. Some of these students leave school without being taught about respect and dignity for others. Some adults even kill their parents and siblings. A few months ago a man killed his mother and two brothers in Toronto.
There is a lot of lack of love and respect for others. If these criminals were not taught or deviated from that teaching, the latter if taught, the result will be more crimes/murders. This is what is occurring today.
Toronto is getting its fair share. Recently, nearly every night there are shootings, stabbings, murders. The fortunate is only injured.
Last weekend, an eighteen year-old girl was shot in a park in the evening. Later, on Friday evening a fifteen year-old was stabbed to death while waiting for a bus. The following evening another one was stabbed nearby. The perpetrators have not yet been caught.
I ask myself why all these stabbings, shooting and murders? What is going on? Can a day/night not pass without such occurrences? Some are adults. What is wrong with those perpetrators? I plan to let my voice, be heard via email, to the Toronto Chief of Police, my MP and MPP.
A well-known sports figure was killed in Calgary, Alberta at the weekend. There was a fight at a bar/club which spilled outside and it ended in his death. Why do people have to fight? Can they not discuss without an argument and fight which sometimes end in injuries and fatalities?
If only those governments would see what harm they have done to the youths/students and their nation. They will be accountable to God.
Capital punishment for certain crimes including murder was mandatory in the Old Testament under the Law of Moses. This is no longer in effect because that law was abolished when Christ was crucified according to Romans 10:4, and other New Testament scriptures.
Today God gives human governments the authority to make laws that suit their needs. We are to obey our governments and live by the laws they impose upon us according To Roman 13:1-4. The fact that God mandated capital punishment for murder in Old Testament times is enough to tell our rulers how God feels about it. However, it is no longer mandatory.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
How can the Bishops say capital punishment does not serve as a deterrent
I do not believe studies have shown this. Murderers have escaped prison and killed again. Murderers have killed again while on parole. Murderers have killed again while in prison. Murderers have been murdered themselves while in prison.
Common sense tells us a man is less likely to murder if he knows capital punishment is an option for
the court.
This push to abolish capital punishment did not originate with the Bishops. It came from the Vatican because that is how the Roman Catholic system works.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
In that case “common sense” would tell us that U.S. states that execute people would have lower murder rates than U.S. states that don’t. And yet not only is that not the case, it’s actually the opposite.
Why? Because when the sanctity of life is widely valued in a society, that’s reflected both in a lack of executions and a lower murder rate.
By the way, the Catholic Church as a whole has taken a strong leadership position on this issue for many years. This isn’t some new position from Pope Francis being jammed down the throats of bishops.
The bishop should be talking about all the injustice he condones in Dominica before he comment on that topic. That’s the first bishop that is silent on issues since it pertains to the Government
*members of the clergy *
This is just too funny. When are they going to officially speak out against membetge of the clergy who use their position to abuse innocent children. When are they going to officially acknowledge that this is a problem and that they won’t condone it. When they come out publicly and denounce this heinous acts, then the above article won’t be funny. Fir the record I believe that the punishment should fit the crime because in the end there are people who are just evil and no amount of rehabilitation can save them. The Bible lists many examples of this. It also wasn’t against the death penalty
Bishops will usually cover up sexual assault crimes against children committed by their priests.
They have told parents not to report the crime to the police. ”Leave it to me. I will take care of it.” is the mantra most often said.
Instead of reporting the sexual abuse of a child to the police, or even defrocking the priest and stripping him of his priestly privileges, the bishop transfers the priest to a different parish.
A re-offending priest is sometimes placed in therapy in one of the institutions the church maintains for the treatment of pedophile or alcoholic priests. The priest is said to be on ”administrative leave”. This sounds O.K. except the public has no idea what it means.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
The same bible used to support those statements is also used to condone capital punishment: An eye for an eye…and all that jazz…
Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of God. Jesus came back to fulfill all the laws of the Old Testament so instead for an eye for an eye he said when someone slap you on one cheek turn the other cheek. So whe you quoting scripture please do it properly.
Unfortunately, these are not people who know the scriptures and they understand them even less.
The ”eye for an eye” part was in the Old Testament law that ended when Christ was crucified.
(Romans 10:4) But they have no understanding of this. To them religion is rites, rituals, and ceremonies. They don’t read their Bibles. If they do read the Bible they are not allowed to interpret it. They are not taught the Word of God.
”And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:19,20)
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Born Dominican:
You are absolutely right! DNO needs more comments like this.
It was St. Jerome who said ”Ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
During the ”dark ages” the Catholic Church forbid its people to read the Bible. Any man with a Bible found in his home was burned at the stake unless it was a Latin Bible which was O.K. because the people couldn’t read it anyway.
Then came the reformation, the printing press, and Protestant Bible Societies. People were reading the Bible. So the Catholic Church said ”You are now allowed to read the Bible but you are not allowed to interpret it.”
This still leaves many people in darkness as far as an understanding of the Bible goes.
We encourage you to read JOHN’S GOSPEL and ROMANS. God is faithful who will give you understanding by His Holy Spirit.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
It depends what part of the Bible you are reading. Not everything in the Bible was written for the same people and not every part of the Bible was written for the same period of time in history. Bible scholars understand this approach to Bible study and refer to it as ”… … …rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Certain rules and regulations, along with animal sacrifices, and the restrictions against wearing certain combinations of materials in clothing were part of the law God gave Moses for the nation of Israel. It expired when Christ was crucified according to John 29:30, Romans 10:4, etc. However, various moral commandments reflecting the holiness of God’s character were carried forward into the New Testament.
What we read in the New Testament applies to us now.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
God mandated capital punishment in the Old Testament. In the New Testament He delegated to human governments the authority to legislate laws suitable for the place, people, and circumstances. Christians are to obey those who rule over them because they have been appointed by God according to Romans 13:1-6. The only time we can ignore these laws is if a human law is contrary to – or opposed to – what God Himself says in His word which for us now is the New Testament. Acts 4:18,19.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill.
Dr. Hill, sadly you are mistaken. New Testament: Romans 13: 1-4; Romans 1:32; Acts 25: 10-11 indicate that God is not opposed to capital punishment. Whereas it is wrong to ‘kill’ (murder), nowhere in the Bible is punishment by death prohibited.
On another matter, can you tell me why there are so many ‘graven images’ in the churches of the Roman Catholic religion when the Bible, the word of God, prohibits the worship of ANY graven image? Is it because it is a Satanic organisation?