The bishops of Japan on the proposal to modify the Constitution. A treasure to protect

The bishops of Japan on the proposal to modify the Constitution.

A treasure to protect

Tokyo, 23.

The Episcopate in Japan is calling Article 9 of the national Constitution a “treasure to protect”. The Japanese Parliament is proposing to revise this article and thus eliminate the country's peace constitution which bars the country from military force in international disputes and refuses to turn to war as a solution to conflict. The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan, Archbishop Peter Takeo Okada of Tokyo, added that the Constitution  –  which was promulgated in 1946 and became law in 1947 – is “a world treasure of which Japan is proud”.

The Constitution was drafted during the military occupation of Japan by the Allies during the Second World War and replaced the previous imperial system with one of liberal democracy. It is a rigid constitution which has not been amended since its adoption.

The Government currently supports the possibility of revising this fundamental law. According to a statement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the process will begin with Article 96 which allows for proposing amendments to the Constitution.

fuente: http://www.osservatoreromano.va/portal/dt?JSPTabContainer.setSelected=JSPTabContainer%2FDetail&last=false=&path=/news/religione/2013/192q13-I-vescovi-del-Giappone-sulla-proposta-di-mo.html&title=A%20treasure%20to%20protect&locale=en