Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Dear friends and participants at this International Conference entitled: “The Death Penalty in the context of Public Security: Neither right nor Effective.” I would have liked to be here with you to add my “two cents” to the public debate on the death Penalty, unfortunately matters of the clergy have me occupied and I am unable to attend.
I would like to say however, from the very outset, that I stand with Francis bishop of Rome on this issue.
Gospel Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
CCSJ invites you to attend a free International Conference on Tuesday, October 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Law Faculty Auditorium, UWI, St Augustine, on the theme: The Death Penalty in the context of Public Security: Neither Right, nor Effective. The Conference is a precursor to worldwide observances to mark the 11th World Day Against the Death Penalty (October 10), dedicated this year to the Greater Caribbean region.
Gospel Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
As I looked at the beaming faces of those who filled the pews and chairs at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Curepe, to participate in the Episcopal ordination of Msgr Robert Llanos as Auxiliary Bishop of Port of Spain on September 14, my heart was filled with joy that our Church is alive and present in T&T.
On behalf of members of the CCSJ, I congratulate His Lordship, Bishop Llanos. We promise to continue to work with you and His Grace, Archbishop Joseph Harris, as together you shepherd God’s people – teaching, sanctifying, governing, and striving to build the civilization of love.