Catholic church in Manila issues prayer against expanded death penalty

[rug]

Sun Dec 11, 2016 | 4:07am EST

Roman Catholic churches in Manila on Sunday read a prayer against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's plans to re-impose the death penalty on heinous crimes, including drug-related offences.

Last week, the justice panel in the lower house of Congress approved a legislative measure to bring back state-sanctioned executions on at least 20 crimes, including rape with murder and kidnapping-for-ransom. The bill may be passed before Christmas.

A prayer issued by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila's archbishop, was read in churches across the city on Sunday and called for help to work against the death penalty.

"There is in our land a cry for vengeance and a move to fill up death rows and kill offenders but disguised as a call for justice," the prayer read. "Let true and lasting justice spring forth."

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-drugs-church-idUSKBN1400BU