Jaro clergy condemns EJKs, cites five alternatives
November 4, 2016
by Mac Norhen Bornales
by Mac Norhen Bornales
Arevalo, Iloilo City --- The Archdiocese of Jaro condemned on Sunday the extrajudicial killings and urged parishioners to promote mercy and justice amid the country’s war against drugs.
In a four-page pastoral letter, Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D. said that the Church “unequivocally” affirms the government’s campaign against drugs but the Church maintained its stand that extrajudicial killing is not the solution.
“As a Church, we cannot accept in our conscience extrajudicial killings. The inviolability and the sacredness of human life. In all its aspects must be upheld,” Archbishop Lagdameo said in the statement.
Archbishop Lagdameo said that the voices of people who were victimized by the war against drug should be heard. “The deplorable images of the victims of drug related crimes before are now superseded by the horrific images that flood our TV screens of the increasing body count,” he added.
The Jaro clergyman recalled the story of some victims, like the girl who cried over the dead body of her father, who was shot dead right before her eyes and the pregnant wife who cradled the lifeless body of her husband.
“It is heart wrenching to recall the scenes. These are voices too that the Church should not and could not ignore. There are too the anguish and the cries of the people that God hears,” Archbishop Lagdamaeo added.
The Paschal Mystery
Archbishop Lagdameo narrated the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion at the Calvary noting that “Jesus was crucified between two criminals” and that people should turn to the crucified Christ when dealing with personal dilemmas and problems.
“It is as if God is telling us, ‘in a place where you think only death is to be found, I am there to offer life; in a situation where pain of execution is the only real option, I offer you a choice of conversion that leads to forgiveness and redemption,” he added.
Archbishop Lagdameo added that through Christ’s solidarity with His people, it became “a doorway to mercy and redemption.”
“The Church recognizes that even the most villainest heart, Jesus never gave up on man. Pope Francis called this the ‘logic of mercy.’ If we truly are the sons and daughters of the Father, we should become merciful like the God our Father!” he added.
Pathways of Mercy and Justice
The Archdiocese of Jaro admitted its failure to foresee the effects of the war against drugs and accepts the shortcomings of the Diocese on “forming the conscience and behaviors in confronting social maladies that demands more evangelical discernment and faith-driven response.”
The Archbishop then enumerated five ways to promote mercy and justice when dealing with personal problems and dilemmas: (i) Breaking free from veiled ignorance and reshaping one’s conscience according to the mind of God (ii) A collaborative effort of the Church and the government (iii) Expediting the justice system (iv) strengthening of local parishes of rehabilitation centers and (v) “Spiritual Revolution” through prayer.
“As we humbly admit our failings, let us join our voices in echoing changed as envisioned by our leaders, but change whose goal is accompanied by right spirit of God and the morally right means,” he added.
In a four-page pastoral letter, Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, D.D. said that the Church “unequivocally” affirms the government’s campaign against drugs but the Church maintained its stand that extrajudicial killing is not the solution.
“As a Church, we cannot accept in our conscience extrajudicial killings. The inviolability and the sacredness of human life. In all its aspects must be upheld,” Archbishop Lagdameo said in the statement.
Archbishop Lagdameo said that the voices of people who were victimized by the war against drug should be heard. “The deplorable images of the victims of drug related crimes before are now superseded by the horrific images that flood our TV screens of the increasing body count,” he added.
The Jaro clergyman recalled the story of some victims, like the girl who cried over the dead body of her father, who was shot dead right before her eyes and the pregnant wife who cradled the lifeless body of her husband.
“It is heart wrenching to recall the scenes. These are voices too that the Church should not and could not ignore. There are too the anguish and the cries of the people that God hears,” Archbishop Lagdamaeo added.
The Paschal Mystery
Archbishop Lagdameo narrated the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion at the Calvary noting that “Jesus was crucified between two criminals” and that people should turn to the crucified Christ when dealing with personal dilemmas and problems.
“It is as if God is telling us, ‘in a place where you think only death is to be found, I am there to offer life; in a situation where pain of execution is the only real option, I offer you a choice of conversion that leads to forgiveness and redemption,” he added.
Archbishop Lagdameo added that through Christ’s solidarity with His people, it became “a doorway to mercy and redemption.”
“The Church recognizes that even the most villainest heart, Jesus never gave up on man. Pope Francis called this the ‘logic of mercy.’ If we truly are the sons and daughters of the Father, we should become merciful like the God our Father!” he added.
Pathways of Mercy and Justice
The Archdiocese of Jaro admitted its failure to foresee the effects of the war against drugs and accepts the shortcomings of the Diocese on “forming the conscience and behaviors in confronting social maladies that demands more evangelical discernment and faith-driven response.”
The Archbishop then enumerated five ways to promote mercy and justice when dealing with personal problems and dilemmas: (i) Breaking free from veiled ignorance and reshaping one’s conscience according to the mind of God (ii) A collaborative effort of the Church and the government (iii) Expediting the justice system (iv) strengthening of local parishes of rehabilitation centers and (v) “Spiritual Revolution” through prayer.
“As we humbly admit our failings, let us join our voices in echoing changed as envisioned by our leaders, but change whose goal is accompanied by right spirit of God and the morally right means,” he added.