Santiago, Chile, Jul 27, 2010 / 12:10 pm
Bishop Alejandro Goic, president of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference, has expressed appreciation for the decision by the country’s President Sebastian Pinera to consider granting clemency to some prisoners on a case by case basis.
Last week the bishops of Chile sent a request to the country’s president asking for the pardon of some prisoners as the country celebrates the bicentennial of its independence.
According to the BBC, the president responded explaining that pardon would be considered individually, in a “very prudent and restrictive manner.” He added that prisoners arrested for serious crimes would not be under consideration.
Bishop Goic told reporters that Pinera’s decision satisfied the bishops, as it puts the issue into the public forum. He said the bishops were not asking for blanket clemency, but rather that the prison system be reformed. “Delinquency is not resolved only by throwing people in jail. There must be an effort to rehabilitate them as well,” he said.