In August 2018, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a new draft of the catechism's paragraph regarding capital punishment. Quoting Pope Francis' words in a speech of Oct. 11, 2017, the new paragraph states, in part, that "the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that 'the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,' and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide."
Reasons for changing the teaching, the paragraph says, include: the increasing effectiveness of detention systems, growing understanding of the unchanging dignity of the person, and leaving open the possibility of conversion.
Fr. Thomas Petri, O.P., a moral theologian at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., told CNA at the time of the revision that he thinks this change "further absolutizes the pastoral conclusion made by John Paul II."
"Nothing in the new wording of paragraph 2267 suggests the death penalty is intrinsically evil. Indeed, nothing could suggest that because it would contradict the firm teaching of the Church," Fr. Petri added.
Duterte has a rocky relationship with the Catholic bishops and clergy of his country, frequently calling them various names and even calling for them to be killed, in large part because they have resisted his war on drugs, which has lead to a spike in extrajudicial killings since he took office in 2016.
Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches hosted a "Mass for Truth" for activists before Duterte's SONA address. Tobias, along with two other bishops, was recently charged with libel and sedition for allegedly accusing Duterte's family of having connections to the illegal drug trade, UCA reported.
Tobias said that the war on drugs was gotten worse since Duterte came to power in 2016, despite his vows to quash it.
"After three years, the number of drug users increased and many have died," Tobias told UCA News.