Misunderstanding the church’s stand on the death penalty
In her letter of August 19, 2008, Beth Cioffoletti wishes that Archbishop Burke “were as vocal on Catholic opposition to capital punishment as he has been on its opposition to abortion.” Ms. Cioffoletti further laments that “some of our five Catholic Supreme Court Justices do not understand Catholic teaching on the death penalty.”
Unfortunately, it is Ms. Cioffoletti, not Archbishop Burke who misunderstands Catholic teaching on the death penalty. The Church has never held that that the death penalty is inherently wrong. Indeed, the Church’s Catechism explicitly notes the duty of the state to defend the lives of its citizens. Such defense may include capital punishment.
On the other hand, the Church prefers bloodless means of defense, if those are sufficient. Many bishops and the Pope oppose the death penalty in modern circumstances because they personally believe that it is no longer necessary to defend innocent lives. Catholics are free to disagree in good conscience with such personal views and most do.
On the other hand, the Church has opposed abortion as an intrinsic evil for a very, very long time.
Regrettably, Ms. Cioffoletti also misunderstands the role of the Supreme Court. Justices—even Catholic justices—are supposed to judge the constitutionality of laws, not act as Platonic Guardians, striking down laws they believe are unjust or unwise. It is difficult to argue that capital punishment is unconstitutional as it was commonly applied at the time the Constitution was written and was explicitly mentioned in the 5th Amendment.
Chris Neely
Des Peres
Chris,
This thing about acknowledging the duty of the state to defend its citizens - Doesn’t the church understand that the state can defend its citizens and still honor the sanctity of life by locking up these people and throwing away the key? There are alternatives to the death-penalty, at least I think all but a handful of the nations of this world believe so. I respectfully submit that I do not believe you explained the Church’s seemingly contradictory positions satisfactorily.
By the way, even as of today, why doesn’t Burke oppose our invasion of Iraq with the same fervor that he opposes abortion? Although the administration argued initially that Iraq and 911 were tied at the hip (meaning maybe at first the Church was duped like the rest of us and thought the state was fulfilling its obligation to defend its citizens) but now that this piece of propaganda has been dismissed, why isn’t Burke, or any church leaders for that matter, stepping up to the plate and condemning this continued killing? Where’s the leadership of the flock?
Disclosure: I am a Catholic and I have been a professional soldier who has served my country well for many years. I see no conflict between the Church’s teaching on killing and going to war with the intent of killing people in order to defend my country. I have always opposed the war in Iraq and have always supported the war in Afghanistan
Mogoid, Maybe the enemy we are fighting is intrinsically evil??????? To invade the Islamic heartland is the last best chance, aside from nuclear strikes, to compel those people that it is not okay to murder innocents.
http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/troopblog/blogitem.aspx?id=502
Hardhat - Who are these people who are intrinsically evil? “The Islamic heartland” tells me nothing. Iraq and its people had nothing to do with 911. Just as Scotland or Tibet had nothing to do with 911.
Mogoid, Don’t be coy for the sake of political opportunism. You know damn well who we are fighting there.
http://www.peacefaq.com/frogtale.html
Yes Mogoid….. don’t you know it’s the CRUSADES ? We’re fighting Hardhat’s religious war ….
And if no one else says it …THANKS for your service to your country …. it IS appreciated.
The Catholic Church holds that ALL life is sacred (whether new born, unborn, or on death row). Capital punishment has been around much longer then abortion providing has been, but the church intself used to burn heretics at the stake, so maybe they haven’t come around to voicing the evils of the death penalty.
“Catholics are free to disagree in good conscience with such personal views and most do.”
Two questions on this statement:
1) Are you saying most catholics support the death penalty?
2) Are you saying that catholics are free to cherry pick which papal edicts they choose to follow?
Suzyjax,
Can you identify for me the papal edict on the death penalty?
Just some food for thought; According to the Department of Justice;
In 2007, 42 persons in 10 States were executed — 26 in Texas; 3 each in Alabama and Oklahoma; 2 each in Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee; and 1 each in South Dakota, Georgia, South Carolina, and Arizona.
Lethal injection was used in 41 executions in 2007; 1 execution was by electrocution.
The latest statistics indicate that 16,693 people were murdered, in 2005.
How many of them do you think died with pain killer drugs and just drifted off to sleep?
Cry me a river……
Star20,
Please explain the point that you are attempting to make. I belive that we are talking about what a Church’s view is suppose to be on the death penalty and of course it should always be supported by scripture.
So, what is the point you are making concerning your numbers and how it helps us understand what the Catholic Church’s view on the subject is and if you feel that it is correct or wrong.