From Freedomskn FM

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, rehabilitation, 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.”

For more on this story go to: http://www.freedomskn.com/caribbean-catholic-bishops-call-for-abolition-of-death-penalty/