The Chamber of Deputies sent to the Permanent Commission on Culture a Project of law that seeks that January 10 of each year be declared “National Day of Forgiveness”.
The initiative is authored by the deputy Luis Gómez Benzo, a perremeist for San Pedro de Macorís, and was submitted on September 26.
In article 2, it proposes ordering the Ministries of Education and Culture to coordinate with town halls, municipal boards and churches the celebration of activities aimed at promoting non-violence and the cessation of hostilities.
In addition, according to article 3, the aforementioned ministries should include in their respective budgets the items containing the funds necessary to comply with the provisions of article 2.
Among its recitals, the piece establishes that the Chapter House of the City Council of San Pedro de Macorís declared January 10 as the Day of Forgiveness.
In addition, that after that declaration, through resolution No. 18-2008, other municipalities in the country such as Concepción de La Vega, Los Llanos and Santo Domingo Norte, have declared that same day in a similar way.
To support its bill, it establishes that different religious institutions have requested that instead of celebrating a Municipal Day of Forgiveness, a National Day of Forgiveness be declared by law.
The fourth recital reads: “that forgiveness is one of the noblest acts of the human being and operates as a transforming element in the hearts of people”.
Other of his justifications, established among the recitals of the piece, is that the Dominican people are devout Christians and “that the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ is deeply rooted in their hearts.”
Gómez Benzo also states that the lack of forgiveness is the most destructive poison for the spirit, because it neutralizes the emotional resources it has, causing violence, mistreatment and lack of interest in oneself.
For him, “consecrating” a national day for forgiveness is opportune in the Dominican Republic because it will strengthen the unity of the Dominican people.
