The Church was fighting for the abolition of the death...

The Church was fighting for the abolition of the death penalty in Taiwan, cardinal Paul Shan said in an interview for the Catholic press agency Fides. The Church was also engaged in spreading the idea of full respect for life, Shan added. Agency Fides conducted surveys, which showed that 70 % of the population in Taiwan was in favour of capital punishment. The percentage fell to 40 %, when taken as an alternative of life imprisonment. Seven people were executed by lethal injection in Taiwan in 2003, according to Amnesty International.