Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Juan (Agenzia Fides) - The leaders of different Puerto Rican Churches have positively welcomed the draft law providing for an amnesty of 60 days during which anyone with a weapon, can deliver it to the police or churches without legal consequences. The Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Mgr. Roberto Octavio González Nieves, O.F.M, said that the Catholic Church is convinced that this provision "shall have the effect of reducing the flow of illegal weapons". "We Bishops are in tune with this effort ... Once the statutes applicable to this amnesty have been studied, how to contribute in carrying it out will be announced" said the Archbishop. However, Mgr. Gonzalez Nieves, warned that, while supporting the amnesty, there is an urgent need to implement a plan to regulate the entry of weapons into the country, as also requested by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "It takes every effort to prevent the proliferation of all weapons that encourage violence, murder and every act of blood", he said. Even the different leaders of other religious groups have spoken out in favor of this peace initiative. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2011)
