Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, called for second chances for persons deprived of liberty during a speech on Prison Awareness Sunday, 25 October. Speaking to a gathering of clergy, prison staff, and community members, Florencio emphasized that “no one is forgotten, no one is beyond redemption, and everyone deserves the opportunity for healing and transformation.” He urged inmates to remember that their past does not define their future, adding that they are “beloved children of God, worthy of dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and the opportunity of a new beginning.” The bishop cited Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti (No. 266), in which the pontiff stated that “punishment must never be motivated by vengeance but should promote healing and reintegration into society.” Florencio said this challenges society to view correctional institutions not merely as places of confinement but as “places where lives can be renewed and hope restored.” He reminded the audience that “God’s infinite love and mercy” extends beyond prison walls and embraces every person, regardless of circumstances or past mistakes. The bishop also referenced the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes (No. 27), which teaches respect for every human person without exception, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 1700), which affirms that human dignity is rooted in creation in God’s image.
Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune