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Caesar
Guest
What are the Church’s teachings on the use of Capital Punishment?
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thistle
Guest
The Church is not in favour of the death penalty but accepts in rare instances it may be necessary.
As I mentioned in another thread the Church rejoices whenever a country abolishes capital punishment as was the case in the recent past in the Philippines.
**CCC 2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.
If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.
Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity “are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.”**
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brianwithani
Guest
I have yet to hear of an execution in the United States that the Vatican supported. In fact, the Church often issues pleas to governers to commute the sentences of convicts to life without parole instead of execution. The Catechism, as a statement of absolute teachings of the Church, leaves the possibility of execution being acceptable but the Church does not seem to advocate the death penalty as we apply it in the United States. One thing that I have always appreciated about Catholics, in general, is that they are usually consistent in trying to create a “culture of life” by opposing the taking of all human life. Most who are against the death penalty believe that convicted criminals should do hard time without the possibility of parole but they can’t morally accept executions.
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Jerry-Jet
Guest
If Osama Bin Laden was captured and convicted it might be permissable to execute him in the eyes of the Catholic Church for the simple reason that his being alive inspires others to kill which is different from an ordinary murderer.
That has to be weighed against the effect that if he were executed and people tried to claim that he was a martyr–if that would inspire more killings than keeping him in jail then the right thing would be to give him life in prison.
I’m no expert and can’t speak for the Catholic church but I believe that people such as Osama Bin Laden and Adolph Hitler WOULD BE those reare practically non existant cases where capital punishment–because it would save other innocent’s lives–would be just and would be allowed by the Catholic Church.
In most all other cases life in prison is the better way.
That has to be weighed against the effect that if he were executed and people tried to claim that he was a martyr–if that would inspire more killings than keeping him in jail then the right thing would be to give him life in prison.
I’m no expert and can’t speak for the Catholic church but I believe that people such as Osama Bin Laden and Adolph Hitler WOULD BE those reare practically non existant cases where capital punishment–because it would save other innocent’s lives–would be just and would be allowed by the Catholic Church.
In most all other cases life in prison is the better way.
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Steven_Merten
Guest
Hello Caesar,
Though the Church has worked with burning heritics at the stake, its ultimate punsihment is Church anathema.
Where Moses physically stoned people to death Jesus gave Apostolic Successors His sworn oath that anyone Apostolic Successors bind to sin on earth He will bind to sin in heaven. What happens to you when Jesus binds your soul to sin in heaven? Spiritual death. Spiritual death Church anathemas are infinitely deadlier than physical death capital punishment. The Church using spiritual death anathemas to protect Christ’s Church is Jesus will.
Please visit Throwing Stones
Anathema
…“To understand the word anathema”, says Vigouroux, “we should first go back to **the real meaning of herem of which it is the equivalent. Herem comes from the word haram, to cut off, to separate, to curse, and indicates that which is cursed and condemned to be cut off or exterminated, **”…
…but anathematized, and that he may be stricken by the sword of Heaven"…
…“Know that Engeltrude is not only under the ban of excommunication, which separates her from the society of the brethren, but under the anathema, which separates from the body of Christ, which is the Church.”… …“If, after having been deposed from office, he is incorrigible, he should first be excommunicted; but if he perseveres in his contumacy he should be stricken with the sword of anathema; but if plunging to the depths of the abyss, he reaches the point where he despises these penalties, he should be given over to the secular arm.”… …**In passing this sentence, the pontiff **is vested in amice, stole, and a violet cope, wearing his mitre, and assisted by twelve priests clad in their surplices and holding lighted candles. He takes his seat in front of the altar or in some other suitable place, amid pronounces **the formula of anathema **which ends with these words: **Wherefore in the name of God the All-powerful, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of the Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and of all the saints, in virtue of the power which has been given us of binding and loosing in Heaven and on earth, we deprive N-- himself and all his accomplices and all his abettors of the Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord, we separate him from the society of all Christians, we exclude him from the bosom of our Holy Mother the Church in Heaven and on earth, we declare him excommunicated and anathematized and we judge him condemned to eternal fire with Satan and his angels and all the reprobate **, so long as he will not burst the fetters of the demon, do penance and satisfy the Church; we deliver him to Satan to mortify his body, that his soul may be saved on the day of judgment."He who dares to despise our decision, let him be stricken with anathema maranatha, i.e. may he be damned at the coming of the Lord, may he have his place with Judas Iscariot, he and his companions. Quoted from: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia - Anathema **NAB MAT 16:13 **
Jesus replied, “Blest are you, Simon son of John! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. I for my part declare to you, you are ‘Rock,’ and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
**NAB REV 1:16 **
A sharp, two-edged sword came out of his mouth,…
…I hold the keys of death and the nether world."
NAB ISA 11:4The Rule of Immanuel
Though the Church has worked with burning heritics at the stake, its ultimate punsihment is Church anathema.
Where Moses physically stoned people to death Jesus gave Apostolic Successors His sworn oath that anyone Apostolic Successors bind to sin on earth He will bind to sin in heaven. What happens to you when Jesus binds your soul to sin in heaven? Spiritual death. Spiritual death Church anathemas are infinitely deadlier than physical death capital punishment. The Church using spiritual death anathemas to protect Christ’s Church is Jesus will.
Please visit Throwing Stones
Anathema
…“To understand the word anathema”, says Vigouroux, “we should first go back to **the real meaning of herem of which it is the equivalent. Herem comes from the word haram, to cut off, to separate, to curse, and indicates that which is cursed and condemned to be cut off or exterminated, **”…
…but anathematized, and that he may be stricken by the sword of Heaven"…
…“Know that Engeltrude is not only under the ban of excommunication, which separates her from the society of the brethren, but under the anathema, which separates from the body of Christ, which is the Church.”… …“If, after having been deposed from office, he is incorrigible, he should first be excommunicted; but if he perseveres in his contumacy he should be stricken with the sword of anathema; but if plunging to the depths of the abyss, he reaches the point where he despises these penalties, he should be given over to the secular arm.”… …**In passing this sentence, the pontiff **is vested in amice, stole, and a violet cope, wearing his mitre, and assisted by twelve priests clad in their surplices and holding lighted candles. He takes his seat in front of the altar or in some other suitable place, amid pronounces **the formula of anathema **which ends with these words: **Wherefore in the name of God the All-powerful, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of the Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and of all the saints, in virtue of the power which has been given us of binding and loosing in Heaven and on earth, we deprive N-- himself and all his accomplices and all his abettors of the Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord, we separate him from the society of all Christians, we exclude him from the bosom of our Holy Mother the Church in Heaven and on earth, we declare him excommunicated and anathematized and we judge him condemned to eternal fire with Satan and his angels and all the reprobate **, so long as he will not burst the fetters of the demon, do penance and satisfy the Church; we deliver him to Satan to mortify his body, that his soul may be saved on the day of judgment."He who dares to despise our decision, let him be stricken with anathema maranatha, i.e. may he be damned at the coming of the Lord, may he have his place with Judas Iscariot, he and his companions. Quoted from: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia - Anathema **NAB MAT 16:13 **
Jesus replied, “Blest are you, Simon son of John! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. I for my part declare to you, you are ‘Rock,’ and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
**NAB REV 1:16 **
A sharp, two-edged sword came out of his mouth,…
…I hold the keys of death and the nether world."
NAB ISA 11:4The Rule of Immanuel
**He shall strike the ruthless with the **rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
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Crumpy
Guest
I am in favor of CP, but I will admit that I am totally motivated by revenge.
Locally, a man was sentenced to 20-40 years in prison. He threw hot grease into another man’s face, causing severe burns.
Even prison sentences are revenge.
Locally, a man was sentenced to 20-40 years in prison. He threw hot grease into another man’s face, causing severe burns.
Even prison sentences are revenge.
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DaughterSorrow
Guest
I disagree. If someone is held in custody, then they are unable to physically harm another citizen and I don’t think the RCC would support the DP. Saying that OBL “could inspire” others to harm citizens seems a flimsy excuse to support the DP. I can’t see the church going for that one. Just my 2 cents!
Peace,
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Genesis315
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This article by Cardinal Dulles is excellent on this subject:
firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0104/articles/dulles.html
firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0104/articles/dulles.html
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john_doran
Guest
capital “punishment” is really a misnomer: since the church only sanctions the death penalty in cases where it is impossible to secure human life and safety in any other fashion, it’s really capital “self-defense” than it is any kind of punitive measure.
as such, i would say that lethal self-defense is sometimes permissible, but lethal punishment (as punishment) is always wrong.
as such, i would say that lethal self-defense is sometimes permissible, but lethal punishment (as punishment) is always wrong.
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Genesis315
Guest
Read Romans chapter 13 and the article I posted above by Cardinal Dulles
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john_doran
Guest
the only relevant passage i could find was this:
2 Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it,
4 for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer.
but i’m, not sure how that supports what i assume is your contention that the bible supports lethal state action as a punishment.
i disagree with dulles, and am not sure how to reconcile his article with:…and the article I posted above by Cardinal Dulles
CCC 2267: “The traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude, presupposing full ascertainment of the identity and responsibility of the offender, recourse to the death penalty, when this is the only practicable way to defend the lives of human beings effectively against the aggressor.”
and CCC 2268: “The fifth commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. the murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.”
it’s pretty hard to inflict death as punishment without directly and intentionally killing…
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estesbob
Guest
Thanks for the link.!
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Sandi
Guest
“The Church is not in favour of the death penalty but accepts in rare instances it may be necessary.
As I mentioned in another thread the Church rejoices whenever a country abolishes capital punishment as was the case in the recent past in the Philippines.”
I’m not Catholic but this is one teaching of the church I agree with wholeheartedly, and I believe the Catholic church has been a real leader in developing the morality of captial punishment.
As I mentioned in another thread the Church rejoices whenever a country abolishes capital punishment as was the case in the recent past in the Philippines.”
I’m not Catholic but this is one teaching of the church I agree with wholeheartedly, and I believe the Catholic church has been a real leader in developing the morality of captial punishment.
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DaveBj
Guest
Absolutely not true. They can (and frequently do) harm other prisoners who have done nothing worthy of death, as well as innocent civilians both within the prison (guards, other civilian workers) and outside the prison (after an escape).
When someone has committed a crime worthy of death, the only way to make absolutely sure that he/she will never do something similar again is to execute him/her.
As a Catholic, I appreciate the CCC’s teaching on capital punishment; however, I do not see the Vatican offering to take our death row prisoners and house them somewhere where they can never harm anyone again. “Money where mouth is” is a favorite saying of mine.
DaveBj
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HailMary
Guest
The Church has always supported the death penalty (recall Moses requiring the stoning of a man because he worked on the Sabbath and recall Acts 5).
The question really becomes, how much force do you apply to stop an aggressor? The answer is as much as needed. If you asked this question in the 13th century there would not be as much confusion. We have jails in America and other places to hold people who has caused injustice. The death penality in america is unnecceary…
The question really becomes, how much force do you apply to stop an aggressor? The answer is as much as needed. If you asked this question in the 13th century there would not be as much confusion. We have jails in America and other places to hold people who has caused injustice. The death penality in america is unnecceary…
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fix
Guest
From the link:Read Romans chapter 13 and the article I posted above by Cardinal Dulles
So, we see that the state has authority from God to punish in justice by death, but we each have no such authority.
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Genesis315
Guest
I look at just use of the death penalty similar to that of the just war. The state has been given the authority by God to both wage war and administer the death penalty. But, they must use them justly. What is justly? That is to be determined by the prudence of those with the authority–and God will judge their decision.
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john_doran
Guest
but “justly” also presumably means that the death is neither intentionally nor directly caused…
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fix
Guest
From the link:
So, it seems the state may directly intend to cause the death of the person? That seems much different from any individual directly willing to end a life.
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john_doran
Guest
but the “state” doesn’t flick the switch on the guy in the chair, or push the button that starts the injection, or pull the lever that opens the trapdoor in the gallows…
similarly, the “state” doesn’t pass the laws that make it such that individuals will have to engage in acts of intentional, direct killing, which is itself morally problematic…
and so on.
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