Brother of murdered man cites faith, forgives killer

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sep 18, 2013 / 01:03 am

Pointing to his faith in Christ and reliance on the mercy of God, a man in Argentina has voiced public forgiveness to the man who murdered his brother.

"If God forgives us every day and gives us the chance to 'start over,' how can I not forgive somebody else?" Hernan Prado said with tears in his eyes during a march his family convened for forgiveness and repentance on Sept. 9. 

Around 3,000 people took part in the march.

"The man who killed my brother is also my brother. That is what I want to instill in my nephews and children. I choose to forgive and to extend forgiveness," Prado said.

Prado's brother, Sebastian, was killed outside his house in Mendoza, Argentina, as he sat in his car with his two children Sept. 6.

Sebastian was preparing to leave for a family reunion when a man approached and tried to steal his car, according to reports. Although he fought back, he was shot three times and eventually died in the emergency room despite efforts to save his life.

Prado said his offer to forgive the killer comes from his faith. 

"I am a Catholic and I believe in Jesus Christ," he said.

If he ever meets his brother's murderer face-to-face, Prado says he "would hug him, cry a lot and tell him I could be like a brother to him. That I weep for him and I weep for my brother."

"In fact, if he comes to talk to me I would not turn him in," Prado continued. "The police have that job. If he asks for forgiveness, that's enough for me. I am not going to hold him or anything."

Prado recalled the instruction of Pope Francis to go to "the peripheries, where there is sorrow, where the people are in need of love."

"A person who kills is a person who has not experienced love. If we don't begin with that, it's going to be very difficult," he said.