The President of the Episcopal Conference of the Dominican Republic, His
Exc. Mgr. Gregorio Nicanor Peña Rodríguez, asked the state security
organs to act quickly in the fight against crime.
The Bishop of the
Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey strongly expressed
himself by talking to the press: "We must find a solution to the
problems of crime in the right way, not with violence, because every act
of violence generates more violence, unnecessary clashes" .
The Prelate attributed the wave of crime that is occurring in the
country to the lack of formation in values, particularly within the
family, at home, because "when man does not have any formation he
becomes a beast", he reiterated.
Mgr. Peña Rodríguez made these statements at the end of the Mass
celebrated in the "Templo las Américas" church, which is located in the
Isabela Storica in Puerto Plata, on the occasion of the celebration of
the 523rd anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in America in January
1494.
"The laws are good, but the problem is in the application: judges must
apply the law with justice and punish those who should be punished, not
punish the innocent", said the Bishop, who concluded by saying that
"Christ must be announced to the people so that, with his message,
together we can eradicate violence from society".