Church faction opposes death penalty

 THE Assemblies of God church in the Highlands region is opposing the implementation of the death penalty in the country.

Church pastor Peter Ropra in a statement last week said the killing of another person was wrong according to the Bible.    

Speaking from Goroka, he said the church believed that any killing even by the state through appropriate legislation was against the country’s stand as a Christian country.

Ropra said convicted people on death row should be given every opportunity to repent their sins and make amends with both God and others, especially the victims’ families.

He said another issue was that of pardon due 

to a miscarriage of justice.

The church says making laws to stop killing will not stop killing.

“Laws should instead be made to help change human behaviour patterns which might stop killings,” Ropra said.