Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has said the Catholic Church does not support the imposition of the death penalty, while reaffirming its commitment to ensuring justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
In a statement issued today (Aug. 10), Cardinal Ranjith said the Archdiocese of Colombo was working in full cooperation with the victims and remained committed to exposing the mastermind or masterminds and all parties involved in the attacks.
He said the Archdiocese wanted to ensure that justice was served to the victims in accordance with the law.
However, Cardinal Ranjith said the Catholic Church could not agree with the imposition of the death penalty, citing paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that the death penalty is unacceptable because it violates human dignity.
He stressed that this position did not mean the Church sought to interfere with the judicial process.
“We have full confidence in the independence of the Sri Lankan judiciary and do not intend to interfere in any way with its decisions or deliberations,” he said.
Cardinal Ranjith also stressed the need to educate the public and take measures to prevent organised or extremist attacks at religious places of worship or elsewhere in the country.
He said the Catholic Church did not seek revenge, while emphasising that civil society and the legal system must ensure public peace, justice and accountability through the established judicial process.
He cited former Pope John Paul II, who said that while people are called upon to forgive and overcome personal revenge, civil society and the legal system must ensure justice and accountability. (Newswire)