Church celebrates Prison Awareness Sunday - ECPPC

MANILA — Following Pope Francis’ call for an end to life imprisonment, the prison ministry of the Philippine bishops agree that life term imprisonments should be replaced by prison sentences with indefinite terms.The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) said life-long incarceration is an inhuman concept” and those sentenced to such terms should be eligible for parole. ‘Hidden death penalty’ Indeed long sentences must be abolished and let’s instead work for justice that enhances, restores and respects human dignity,” said Rodolfo Diamante, ECPPC executive secretary.Speaking to a delegation from the International Association of Penal Law in Rome, Pope Francis yesterday called for an end not only to capital punishment, but also to life-long prisons which he branded a hidden death sentence.”The pope also called on Christians to campaign for improved prison conditions, out of respect for the human dignity of persons deprived of their liberty.” And this, I connect with life imprisonment,” he said. Life imprisonment is a hidden life penalty.”According to Diamante, the local prison ministry has long been advocating for a justice system that transitions from the punitive to restorative.Restorative justiceIn restorative justice, he reiterated, the offenders are given opportunities to repair the damage they have done through various creative ways. That has been our advocacy — justice that moves beyond punishment. Justice with mercy and compassion,” he said.The ECPPC also lauded Pope Francis for reaffirming the call to abolish the death penalty and life imprisonment, arguing that such a stand is a defense to the dignity of human life.”In a message for Prison Awareness this Sunday Oct. 26, 2014,the agency firmly believes in the capacity of a person to transform and reform his behavior, especially with the help of society which, in the first place, has much to do in creating an environment for the commission of crime, intended or not.” Each crime committed has a social context and society as a whole, for creating an environment vulnerable to the commission of crime, is as guilty as its erring member,” it said.(CBCPNews)