The Head of the Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong says Government can’t and must not lean towards the death penalty as a cure for what authorities are calling the drugs epidemic that is currently infiltrating Fiji.
In a statement released today, the Archbishop said there has to be other ways and solutions to address the constant rise in drugs.
“The government and law makers must exhaust all avenues of stopping drugs and reform people.There are more effective ways to stop drug abuse and reform drug lords than the death penalty.”
“Has the government exhausted all platforms for addressing drugs?”
The Archbishop referred to the Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith that the Catholic faith stands by which denounces the support of the death penalty.
“The Church teaches, in light of the gospel, that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.”
Last week Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya called for the death penalty for those found to be peddling and bringing drugs into Fiji.
Photo: Archbishop Peter Loy Chong (Source: Archdiocese of Suva FB Page)
