A new law abolishing the death penalty was passed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines before her trip to the Vatican. The law was met with criticism from anti-crime activists who think that Arroyo, a Roman Catholic, is trying to gain the Pope’s approval by passing it.

The Vatican’s envoy to Manila, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, said “We cannot speak about human rights when death penalty is imposed.”

Arroyo, herself, has been criticized for several human rights violations during her administration. The Philippines is by no means a political paradise. Perhaps this is what makes it even more embarrassing, that a third world country with third world problems can still teach Mr. Bush a thing or two about the “culture of life”.