We are in favor of capital punishment: Cardinal Ranjith

12 July 2018 08:39 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 51 Bookmark

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While welcoming President Maithripala Sirisena to execute drug traffickers who have been sentenced to death, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today there is more to be done to stop the criminals organizing crimes while being in the prison in addition to subjecting them to capital punishment.

“ We will support President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to subject those who organize crime while being in the prison to death sentence but we also feel that there is more to be done,” Cardinal Ranjith told a media briefing this evening.

“We understand that even prison officers also support the criminals to organize crime while in prison and therefore it is our belief that political leadership of the country should carry out investigations and penalize the prison officers as well if they are found helping the inmates to carry out various crimes,” he added. (Yohan Perera)

Comments - 51

channa Thursday, 12 July 2018 08:52 PM

Murderers, rapists and drug dealers should be hung to protect the inocent people in this country

44 160

Quintus Friday, 13 July 2018 07:14 AM

True Christianity does not approve death penalty. Period.

39 59

PC Friday, 13 July 2018 08:16 AM

Some of those mentioned have 'disliked' this comment. Haha

6 25

Excellent Friday, 13 July 2018 08:16 AM

Well said. We all want a CRIME FREE country, This will certainly attract more tourists to our Country.

11 33

KARU Friday, 13 July 2018 09:07 AM

If true, those woh aid them too should be hanged. drug runneres, rapisits and murderers have no regard for human values.

4 30

5555 Friday, 13 July 2018 09:21 AM

Child molestering priest in the Catholic Church should be also punished too

13 53

AJ Friday, 13 July 2018 09:27 AM

Also featuses should be aborted if the mothers life is in danger? Why the double standard for this issue?

4 28

Asanka Friday, 13 July 2018 04:55 AM

All are God's children and we should pray for the souls of the sinners. advocating to take ones life is not the way of the God. we should teach about God's love for us and try to get them denounce their wicked ways.

26 34

Ali Friday, 13 July 2018 04:58 AM

I think the criminals have thumbs down channas’ comment. The rate of murder and robbery is too high in the country and no one feels safe.

6 26

ranmald Friday, 13 July 2018 06:34 AM

Supporting the death penalty is an unchristian act.I disagree with the Cardinal. Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord The State shoukd not be allowed to butcher its own citizens.The Buddhist relegion also emphasises that all life is sacred.

19 26

Dp Friday, 13 July 2018 06:43 AM

The holy church approves taking a life of another if the person is unwanted in the society. Then why oppose abortion when an Innocent child is raped and has an unwanted pregnancy.

7 30

Amaris Friday, 13 July 2018 06:45 AM

Nce photo DM. Thanks. Reminds me of a pack of cards.

16 12

ANTON Friday, 13 July 2018 07:05 AM

ACTUALLY HOLY FATHER, IN ADDITION , THIS PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO PLANNED KILLERS AND RAPISTS (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BOY FRIENDS)

12 5

Nimal Friday, 13 July 2018 08:08 PM

Anton, Your Holy Father is in the Heaven, and not on earth. There are no holy fathers on earth.

3 8

Yeti Friday, 13 July 2018 07:12 AM

Well said! Jesus said 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do' but these buggers jolly well do and should pay for their crimes with their worthless lives. Bring on the hangmen!!!

9 21

Soam Friday, 13 July 2018 07:18 AM

Whether capital punishment is morally right or wrong is debateable. If it is going mitigate or fix the drug scourge, so be it.

4 16

Chris Friday, 13 July 2018 07:21 AM

I am shocked that you are a messenger of Christ our Lord Jesus. Tell me where in the Gospels Jesus ever wanted criminals killed. There is no death sentence in UK , France , Italy, Germany....Go back to Rome and check.You should not be talking about hanging people.Your job is to save souls.

16 31

Lucas Friday, 13 July 2018 10:30 AM

Saving souls not a job. Sheep follows the Shepered with free will under some guidance . That way minimize any kind of law enforcement.

4 6

Nimal Friday, 13 July 2018 08:10 PM

Jesus died for sinners. He never said the sinners must be killed!

1 10

Lalith Friday, 13 July 2018 07:21 AM

History records the Roman Catholic church as having put to death thousands of innocent people in the name of Inquisition. The bishop should never represent the Protestant christian churches.

4 19

Nimal Friday, 13 July 2018 08:12 PM

No. He will never do so. So do not have any fears on that Lalith. By the way he is not a bishop but a Cardinal

1 1

truth Friday, 13 July 2018 07:26 AM

Lets see the ushering in of a true independent Judiciary with Judges not resigning and having guts to sit on any case . Dont forget how police frame charges by planing drugs which is a well known fact. Given the current circumstances lets not implement capital punishment. Al of us are aware how many top politicians are involved in the trade with impunity

1 18

Strategist Friday, 13 July 2018 07:28 AM

There is no evidence to suggest that capital punishment reduce crime. A good example is the US - one of the highest deaths by shooting

3 17

Sunil Friday, 13 July 2018 07:31 AM

I agree with Amnesty International. Death penalty is a very cruel, inhumane and irreversible form of punishment.

9 18

Nimalakantha Friday, 13 July 2018 03:25 PM

I agree with you fully

2 7

Leo Friday, 13 July 2018 08:08 AM

It's a split decision. On one hand but God the giver of life has the right to take a life. Yet if one of my family member fell victim to drugs or harmed by criminals, I would want nothing less than the drug pedler or the criminal to be executed. it's a hard call.

4 16

Michael Friday, 13 July 2018 08:14 AM

How could a person preaching the cross, condemn a sinner to the penalty of death? The cross signifies that even for the worst sinner, the penalty of death has already been paid and anyone who accepts this and repents of his sin and starts a new life is forgiven.

10 16

Kf Friday, 13 July 2018 08:21 AM

Well.said! , Your Eminence

11 17

Dias Friday, 13 July 2018 08:42 AM

Why cant we Buddhists dig our an erudite and practical leader like His Eminence.....we always end up stuck with the rif raf!

5 18

Hobbes Friday, 13 July 2018 08:44 AM

Dear Cardinal, what happened to "thou shall not kill"? Whether one person kills another or the State kills someone, it is still MURDER...! I really do not believe that executions will solve the drug/crime menace; it will merely satisfy our blood lust and unquenchable thirst for vengeance...!!

12 18

Mali Friday, 13 July 2018 04:40 PM

This is cardinal ' personal view not on behalf of the Christian community.

0 7

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 13 July 2018 09:16 AM

How come Cardinal you never spoke out on crimes during Rajapakse regime!!! Oh yes, u were too busy organizing chartered flights to the Vatican for Royalty. Is your niece Ruwani Cooray still attached to SL embassy in France as sec.secretary despite not even passing the foreign service examination.

13 35

idroos Friday, 13 July 2018 09:18 AM

But BBS would fall on the streets saying that capital punishments also touches on islamic law

1 12

Unchikun Friday, 13 July 2018 09:20 AM

One fellow wants a Hitler, and now a hangman. Lovely people we have in Sri Lanka.

6 17

Advise Friday, 13 July 2018 09:25 AM

What are the advises from Maha Sanga ? In Japan (Mahayana) and Thailand(Theravada),they help leaders of their country to build the nation. Whats we hear from our temples in day to day news? Supportive advise or opposite advise. If Mahanayakas get together and discuss this , how its value for our nation and example to the politicians to get together. What Lord Buddha says in this regard? Loss of Monk Sobitha thero is agreat loss. Why no successor yet to replace him?

1 9

Ronnie Bugger Friday, 13 July 2018 09:25 AM

The Catholic community in Sri Lanka says AMEN to Cardinal Ranjith's comment.

25 15

AJ Friday, 13 July 2018 09:26 AM

Ranjith Cardinal Malcolm's statement contradicts the pro-life stance of the Catholic Church which does not allow abortion even when the mothers life is in danger?Is Ranjith Cardinal Malcolm trying to curry favors with the president?

13 28

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 13 July 2018 10:02 AM

This fellow has been doing that for a long time. He was even quiet when nuns of missionary were arrested and only intervention from the Vatican made him talk.

10 23

keerthi Friday, 13 July 2018 09:46 AM

How drug prisoners get calls without monitoring so and so even one milligram get caught. Will try to fix phone detector at prisons

1 7

Sean Friday, 13 July 2018 10:02 AM

The pope will not be happy with his comment..

5 22

Nikmayama Friday, 13 July 2018 10:59 AM

Those who against to hung murders , Pl. read Holy Bible, Exodus 14.

15 2

Gamini.Kawiratne Friday, 13 July 2018 11:01 AM

This decision should have been taken decades back. Not only those found guilty of drug offences but murderers and Rapost should be hanged.

6 10

Escobar Friday, 13 July 2018 02:14 PM

Do what the Phillipine President Rodrigo Duterte did.Sri Lanka will become free of drugs and thugs very quickly.

8 6

imran Friday, 13 July 2018 02:14 PM

We are with you FATHER. Well said. Your are thinking the future generation Lankan kids.

11 9

ND Friday, 13 July 2018 02:43 PM

Capital punishment for rapists and murderers too!!

4 7

Barry Friday, 13 July 2018 03:05 PM

What about the child molesters

1 10

Jerome Friday, 13 July 2018 09:05 PM

A big yes, also for the rapist and murderers.

0 5

GH Friday, 13 July 2018 11:56 PM

Well said.

2 1

Nimal Saturday, 14 July 2018 02:47 PM

Pope Francis is against the capital punishment. Here is the news item - "Pope Francis calls for world free of death penalty" in a video message supporting the sixth World Congress against capital punishment. Written by Ines San Martin - Vatican Correspondent. https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/06/21/pope-francis-calls-world-free-death-penalty/

0 5

Singhela Saturday, 14 July 2018 02:58 PM

How can he espouse the teachings of Jesus, and support Capital punishment.

0 8

Lord Wolfstein Sunday, 15 July 2018 12:13 PM

Eminence, when do you want to start witch burning?

0 3

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