War on Drugs Archives

Illegal drug makers, dealers are traffickers of death, pope says

Catholic News Service, Vatican
Dec 3, 2018

Everyone must help in the fight against drugs, particularly governments which are called to confront the “traffickers of death” who produce, distribute or sell addictive substances, Pope Francis said.

Philippine police boost image with religious processions honoring Mary

Catholic News Service, Global Church
Jun 1, 2018

Beset by allegations of playing an active role in hundreds, if not thousands, of drug-related killings, Philippine police have sought to boost their battered image by holding religious processions in honor of Mary.

Philippine churches to ring bells to protest drug killings

Associated Press, Global Church
Aug 20, 2017

Archbishop Socrates Villegas asks his countrymen, “Why are we no longer horrified by the sound of the gun and blood flowing on the sidewalks?” He said church bells will be rung to rouse the citizens against the evils of Duterte’s extrajudicial killings of people suspected of being involved in the drug trade.

Church in Philippines emerges as strongest opposition party

Global Church
Aug 20, 2017

Since tough-talking President Rodrigo Duterte swept to power last summer, estimates are that almost 8,000 people have been killed in violence triggered by the war on drugs, mostly young males in slum neighborhoods. Catholic bishops have become the leaders of the opposition, and signs point to an escalating struggle over the country’s future.

Filipino bishop backs case against Duterte in international court

Catholic News Service, Global Church
Apr 28, 2017

A Filipino bishop backs the case filed before the International Criminal Court against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, calling him a “mass murder.” Human Rights Watch reported that more than 7,000 people had been killed in the president’s war on drugs in less than a year.

Marijuana scores badly in ‘entirely predictable’ report

Catholic News Agency, Church in the US
Apr 24, 2017

In 2016, a report was released that showed some of the negative impacts marijuana legalization has had on the state of Colorado overall and specifically on the city of Denver. Those stats, however, were not enough to deter other states from voting for legalization in the last election.