Archbishop Morel: “Violence will not stop with a Penal Code”

Faced with the wave of crimes that has shaken the country in recent days, the coadjutor archbishop of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán, launched strong criticisms this Tuesday regarding the moral deterioration of Dominican society and asserted that violence is a consequence of the loss of family values and the sense of God.

The prelate stated that the recent femicides, homicides, and other acts of bloodshed evidence a profound human crisis that is leading people to commit increasingly cruel acts.

“How is it possible for one person to murder another in cold blood? How is it possible for a mother to take the life of her own daughter? When a society loses mercy and the sense of God, it ends up becoming a jungle where we all see each other as enemies,” he expressed.

We recommend reading:Apostolic Nuncio states that it is “urgent” to approve the new Penal Code in the Dominican Republic

Morel Diplán maintained that, although the debate on the reform of the Penal Code is important, no legislation will be enough to curb violence if the role of the family as the primary shaper of values is not rescued.

“It is not enough to pass a Penal Code. If we do not reform the family, we will continue to face the same problems. True change begins in the home,” he emphasized.

The archbishop, while presiding over the homily at the Santiago Apóstol el Mayor cathedral, called on families, churches, schools, and all of society to recover the culture of forgiveness, respect, solidarity, and love for one’s neighbor, warning that the country will continue to surprise everyone every week with new tragedies if a transformation in the upbringing of new generations does not occur.

Finally, he offered a prayer for God to grant wisdom to the Dominican people and allow for the rebuilding of the values that, in his view, are essential to achieving a safer, more humane, and peaceful society.