CBCP official: Suicide is a sin

 News
Jun 292013
 

A gentle reminder from a Catholic priest: committing suicide is a sin.

“[The] taking of one’s life is a sin. The Church would not condone that for whatever reason. We must understand that oftentimes, when somebody tries to kill himself, there is something wrong with him mentally…that is the best way the Church understands those who try to kill themselves,” said Fr. Francis Lucas, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Social Communication and Mass Media.

However, the CBCP official refused to comment on the case of outgoing Cagayan de Oro (First District) Rep. Benjo Benaldo, since the latter has kept mum on what happened the Thursday night he was found bleeding from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

“Well first, it is not proven. It’s not yet confirmed. We cannot comment unless he confirms it himself. It is just an allegation up to today. The police does not even confirm this,” Fr. Lucas added.

Fr. Lucas also advised that those who survived their suicide attempts to go to confession and to atone for trying to end his/her life.

The priest added that people who are facing difficulties in life should talk to people they trust and also to a priest who might understand their situation. 

He ended the interview with a reminder of the value of life.

“Life is so precious because it was given by God…I always say we have rights, but it’s God who owns our [lives]…life is just a lease from God and he could get it from us anytime he wants. We know our birthdays are but we don’t know our death anniversary,” he added.

On Thursday, the bloodied 43-year old lawmaker was rushed to the hospital after he was found barely conscious inside his office at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City. He is now in stable condition. — VC, GMA News

Congressman Benaldo 'stable' in hospital with gunshot wound to the chest

 News
Jun 272013
 
Congressman Benaldo 'stable' in hospital with gunshot wound to the chest

(Updated 11:53 p.m.) Cagayan de Oro first district Rep. Benjo Benaldo was rushed to the hospital after he was found bleeding from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the South Lobby of the Batasan Pambansa early Thursday evening, officials said. In an interview with Jessica Soho on GMA’s State of the Nation news program, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the 43-year-old Benaldo was alone in his room before he was found bleeding in the lobby. “Apparently, nag-iisa lang siya sa room at the time it happened. He probably shot himself in the chest,” Belmonte said. Marcelo Castro of the House Media Bureau, who saw Benaldo drenched in blood at the lobby, told GMA News Online that the wounded congressman was immediately brought to New Era Hospital along Commonwealth Avenue. As of posting time, Belmonte said Benaldo’s condition was “progressing” at the hospital. “Nakakapag-thumbs up pa nga siya at nakatawa,” the Speaker said.     Belmonte said Benaldo did not appear “emotionally distraught” before the incident, but added that he may have been depressed after losing his reelection bid in the 2013 elections. “He was probably feeling depressed after the loss like everybody else,” Belmonte said. A first-term congressman from the Nacionalista Party, Benaldo lost to barangay chairman Rolando Uy of the Liberal Party in the May polls. Also at the hospital with Belmonte were Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, Quezon City Police District director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano, and Benaldo’s wife, Brazilian model and television personality Daiana Menezes. Quimbo said the bullet Read More …