” “"The excuse of the fight against terrorism to justify special tribunals, the exploitation of people’s fears, violence and arbitrariness in some parts of the planet, where there is no real constitutional state, sound very worrying to us": this is the warning made today by the Council of the Christian Churches of France (signed by cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and president of the French Bishops Conference, by pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont, president of the Protestant Federation of France, and by metropolitan bishop Emmanuel, president of the Assembly of French Orthodox Bishops) in a joint statement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the abolition of death penalty in France (10th October). The Christian Churches encourage Christians "to be twice as vigilant before the temptations of stepping back" from such acquired human rights. "In a troubled and divided world they highlight where executions are still massively practised, it is more important than ever to join Christians into one and only denunciation, a peaceful but firm one, of this punishment that is contrary to the hope of God’s mercy".” “
