By Adam Amper
President, Catholic Faith Defenders Cebu
Talking back to a “Tell it to SunStar” contributor (Sept. 27, 2019) on the topic “I am for death penalty.”
The writer did not understand what he was talking about. He was basing his stand in the Old Testament where the laws of the Israelite during their time was Lex Taliones, meaning vengeance (Exo 21:24).
He did not give weight to the Fifth Commandment: Not to kill (Exo. 20:13), which for him applies only against cold-blooded killings. This commandment was even repeated by Christ, saying “Do not kill” (Mat 19:18).
Jesus confirmed this commandment when He pardoned and did not persecute the adulterous woman who were supposed to be persecuted and be killed right there and then (Jn 8:11) having commmitted a heinous crime in their time.
The writer invented a doctrine that by “killing as a punishment does not go against the commandment.” The writer condemns the Church to be pro-evil since she is against death penalty. The church stands firm in its ground NOT TO KILL in consonance of the Church’s pro-life teaching. Killing heinous criminal goes counter to the prayer of Christ to forgive (Mat 6:12, Mat 5:33, 44).
Was Christ evil because He did not kill the heinous criminals? How then can you say that the Church founded by Christ, the Roman Catholic Church, who is just following the commandment not to kill be pro-evil?
As I read his column, I realized that the writer is not objective in his article, but subjectively attacking the Church in her doctrinal teachings by quoting idol worshippers, which in truth and in fact is not under its church’s teachings.