As I was about to start this controversial issue I was triggered to research from some of our top newspaper writers to even really dig out what the real issue is about, justice or revenge? Is death penalty a biblical option? Who is really the real victim of this case? Is it acceptable to the Law of God and society to kill a person?
Doing this article is not a joke. We are dealing here with political, social and moral implications. The Supreme Court’s approval on the execution of the convicted rapist Leo Echegaray will not be its last but rather a turning point for another death row of twelve convicted men. Neither will the Church and FLAG leaders change their stand on death penalty. And so the clashes between them will continue. Yet we have to be well aware that the decision to retain the RA 7659 as it had been fully debated by senate is as crucial as how the other countries sees the dignity of the Filipino people and on how mature is our judicial system over these matters.
But let me take you to another part of this story where burning words from both sides are seen. Actually, I was impressed that one of the pro-death is Fr. Sonny Ramirez, OP. So far, he is the only priest I have heard that is a “retentionist”. Upon stating his viewpoints, he was treated as a separatist by the Church but I admire his courage to voice out his conscience. I am inspired by his words so allow me to include some of his opinions and stands with regard to death penalty along the way.
We all believe that life is God’s greatest gift and it’s sacred because it is created by God who is also sacred Eventually, life had its distinct dignity and its destiny is homeward bound to heaven. We are all journeying to reach our ultimate goal, to be with God in His Kingdom.
To deepen this, life in itself is accompanied by a responsibility to respect, protect, honor, and care for its very identity, life of the others around him, but especially within his most immediate society, his family. We are interdependent with each other with an obligation to be productive in the society, to show love, and not to exploit nor take advantage of the weakness of others.
The very moment man abuses and destroys the very principle of self-respect, dignity, and respect for others, he automatically kills the very life in him. And by the Laws of God and of the society, he will suffer the consequences. We are not to blame the society for it only facilitates what is due to every man so as to protect and preserve life.
Moreso, let me associate with exact conventionality this present situation and problems with the teaching of the AngelicDoctor, St. Thomas Aquinas as directly quoted from his Summa Theologica Ila Ilae Question 64 Article 2: “I answer that, it is lawful to kill dumb animals, in so far as they are naturally directed to man’s use, as the imperfect is directed to the perfect. Now, every part is directed to the whole, as imperfect, wherefore every part is naturally for the sake of the whole. For this reason we observe that if the health of the whole body demands the excision of a member, through it’s being decayed or infectious to the other members, it is both praiseworthy and advantageous to have it cut away. Now every individual person is compared to the whole community, as part to whole. Therefore if a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good since a little leaven corrupts the whole lump.” (Cor 5:6)
This is even seconded by the newly edited Catechism of the Catholic Church ( page 546, part 3, no. 2266), thus stated: “Preserving the common good of society requires rendering the aggressor unable to inflict harm. For this reason the traditional teaching of the Church has acknowledged as well-found the right and duty of legitimate public authority to punish male factors by means of penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime, not excluding in case of extreme gravity, the death penalty. For analogous reasons those holding authority have the right to repel by armed force aggressors against the community in their necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.”
Basing from the facts presented above, it clearly puts the common good on higher concern than the individual good thus a death of one person is necessary if he possesses danger to the welfare of the common people. In other words, the Law of Society on capital punishment is just and valid as the due process of law has been laid.
Leo Echagaray deserves to live if he did not rape his daughter Baby five time from age ten onwards. He even on one time got the nerve to molest Baby in front of his younger son who was just two years old. HE still instist on his innocence inspite of so many court trials that even reached the Supreme Court who uphold the case for several times.
Making things more abominable and detestable, he got the gall to view an x-rated film on the eve of his suspended death day. What could this request mean? That he still desires to have another bed scenario with Baby– and the outlet is the film? Tha would be a big slap on Baby’s face… Leo is still laughing even on the last day of his life.
The public outcry for Leo Echagaray’s execution is not a shout of vengeance, but a shout of justice. Demanding justice for Baby does not necessarily mean we’re Pro-Death, rather we’re very much Pro-Life and Pro-Justice. We’re concerned of the rights of the people and for the justice of the bereaved and afflicted. We’re after for a just, peaceful, and ordered society where all men are equal, whether the rights and dignity of life are sustained and respected. It is for these reasons that Leo’s execution is just and right!
Yes, I believe death is the confrontation with the Author of Life but He is God of Peace and Order. This is enough to accept Death Penalty on very extreme particular cases. He may have been a father to Baby for ten years but he became a best in those several short and dark hours that put an end to the very womanhood of his child. Leo killed the child’s right to live her childhood with gladness, of destroying her very chance of dreaming and of fulfilling these dreams. Baby – shattered and broken – is actually the one who received the lethal injection. Every time Leo took advantage of her, every minute of terror, anguish and pain…it’s even better to b dead once than to carry the horrifying experiences all of your life.
Lastly, Leo should not blame the society for we did not condemn him to death, he chose death for himself when he committed in full conscience those horrendous acts.
My dear readers, don’t say I’m biased in this report. I am just showing you what I think is more logical to believe. It is just to give him what he deserved — death. And let me leave you a food for thought, “Baby’s dead but she is still walking. ”
But did you ever think if people do really find what they really wanted from life before they die? If not, what happens to the searching soul? Will it just disappear into the thin air or will it reborn itself and try one more time to fulfill one’s fate?
CoMMeNTS