The Catholic Church is dismayed at the Papua New Guinea government's decision to reinstate the death penalty.
The Catholic Bishops Conference has reacted angrily and accused the Government and Parliament for ignoring the public debate on the death penalty and fast tracking their own agenda in parliament.
The General Secretary for Catholic Bishops' Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands Father Victor Roche says it is indeed a sad day for the country when the Parliamentarians decided to give the death penalty for its own citizens.
He says they do agree that the leaders want to put a stop to the merciless killing of innocent people especially of rape, sorcery and murder.
But he says the death penalty is not the solution.
However he adds the church has welcomed other amendments to the criminal code on penalties for abduction, murder, and the misuse of funds of over 2 million US dollars.
