MOTIVATED by the call from Pope Francis, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday, September 2, 2022, renewed its opposition to the revival of the death penalty in the country.In a radio interview, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) Vice Chairman Bishop Victor Bendico said they continue to reject proposals to bring back the death penalty.”We reiterate our strong opposition in the move to revive the death penalty in the Philippines,” said Bendico.”The stand of the CBCP of strongly opposing death penalty is in line with the mind of our present Pope,” he added.The prelate said this is because imposing the death penalty lessens the value of life.”We really have to preserve this gift of life given by the Lord,” said Bendico.He added that meting out capital punishment violates the inherent dignity of a person.”The dignity of a person is not lost despite the commission of a crime,” said Bendico.Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers renewed the push for the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes in the Philippines.It was back in 2006 when then president Gloria Arroyo abolished the death penalty in the Philippines.Earlier this week, Pope Francis asked Catholics around the world to pray this September for the end of the death penalty.The Pope said he is praying that the death penalty will be legally abolished in every country. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)