As the Dominican Republic’s national congress continues its debate on a proposal to reform the country’s penal code and allow for the death penalty, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez of Santo Domingo has expressed his opposition to the move, saying the change would cheapen the value of human life.

The cardinal said life sentences should be imposed for serious crimes and that “the death penalty should never be justified.”

According to a Gallup-Hoy poll, a significant number of Dominicans are in favor of the death penalty for serious crimes.  Several Dominican legislators in the national congress have said they share Cardinal Rodriguez’s view on the issue.