Mindanao Times

Archbishop F. Capalla to discuss with President Arroyo about the death penalty.

Archbishop Fernando Capalla has promised to discuss with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the death penalty if he will have much time when they meet today. Arroyo is the guest this morning of the meeting of the Council of Elders at a local hotel here where Capalla, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), is a member. Capalla said that if he has enough time to talk with Arroyo, he would remind her of the Catholic church's teachings on preserving life.

Earlier, he issued a pastoral letter on his objection to the President?s lifting of the moratorium of death penalty.

The archbishop expressed optimisim that the President will still listen to other people's suggestion on the issue.

But he admitted that he has no power as a leader of the Catholic Church to influence the President to change her decision.

"Still I respect the decision of the President. I just want to inform her that death penalty is against the teachings of the Church," he said.