Kulang: Death penalty un-Christian

 KUNDIAWA-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang says he will not support the enforcement of the death penalty in Parliament because it is against Christian principles.

In a media statement yesterday, Kulang said: “My Christian conscience does not serve me right to support the enforcement of the legislation on death penalty by the state.  I think it is against the fundamental Christian principle of “Thou shall not kill”.  

“I call on all other Christian parliamentarians to search their conscience and confirm their positions also on this matter. We cannot continue to be silent on matters that borders on moral and Christian principles,” he said. 

He called on churches to come out and make known their position on this matter as well.  

Kulang acknowledged that the Catholic church was the first to state that it was against the death penalty.  

“What about the other churches?  This is an important matter and critical time and the clergy must speak to guide the state,” Kulang said.

He said PNG was a Christian nation and its people must be guided by Christian principles as enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution at all times.

“There is a need for greater debate on this matter and it is imperative that we give our ears to the clergy who is the custodian of the rule book that our Constitution is referenced to,” he said.

Kulang said it was better to be governed by conscience instead of becoming a legalistic society.  

“It is within our long term interest that there is a development of a strong moral conscience that underpins moral conduct and not necessarily by legislation. 

“A society or state without a strong moral conscience is without a foundation at all to support its long term growth and prosperity,” Kulang said.  

He said there was a current and urgent need to enforce daring laws to deter the rising lawlessness but these laws must be based on proper moral foundations.  

“We must search our hearts and minds to ensure we are doing the right thing and not be dictated to by the circumstantial need of the day,” Kulang said.