Well, not really. What I’m saying is that if it’s not prohibited then it would depend on our conviction on whether or not to apply or mete out the penalty. I don’t think it is compulsory for everyone to allow the death penalty, but if a certain country or state would do so, then it should not be condemned by other Christians. Although not on all fours with the instant case, I suppose we could loosely apply Romans 14 by analogy.
Great then! First, it was not in the Gospels that slves were instructed to obey their masters, but in the epistles of Paul, specifically, Eph. 6:5-9. It also inctructed masters on how to treat their slaves.
Unless they kill in prison or from prison.
I disagree with that. I think most murders are results of poverty (i.e. gang related murders), which means they have nothing to lose. It’s a social issue, not an issue of threat.
In Saudi Arabia, capital punisment is carried out very swiftly, publicly and there is very limited appeal rights. So are they being very Christian like you, I wonder. Sorry, do not understand your first point.
There has always been poverty. There has not always been gangs. Killing someone because you have no respect for another’s life is not related to being poor. All poor are not gang bangers. Your argumant is a non-sequiter.
Your argument is a non-sequiter as well. You did not mention the cost of a capital punishment trial and execution, in Sudi Arabia, you just attacked me and called me un christian which in and of itself is just an attempt to sully me and not may stance. Your assertion has no basis on fact so attack me.
I was attacking your call for swift, public, without repeated appeals execution. Why swift and public? The appeal system is about the justice system. The argument against capital punishment is not about costs, if you mean monetary costs. If you mean the cost of the possibility of injustice being done, it is a very high cost indeed. Yes blame it all on the liberals. Christians should be liberal with our charity and forgiveness. With regard to your reference to saints etc, surely in this time and age we are more civilised in the real sense of the word and place more value on justice, liberty and life.
Because it improves the deterrent value of capital punishment. The would-be criminal would know that he’d be executed within in a reasonable time, as opposed to sitting in death row for twenty or thirty years. Public executions also act as a deterrent. All you need to do is put yourself in the place of the murderer. Would you rather be executed in front of hundreds, thousands, even millions of people, or would you rather be in a small room inside where no one will see you, except maybe two or three guards?
Once again, “justice is not about the passions” (Summa Theologica, Secunda Secundae Partis, Question 58, Art. 9). Vengeance is about the passions; therefore, justice is not about vengeance.
Are you really saying that today’s theologians place more value on justice, liberty, and life, than did several of the earliest popes, St Augustine, and St. Thomas?
Forgiveness has nothing to do with justice and punishment for crime.
Gangs such as MS-13 are a big money drug business. We need to pay more attention to them. In addition, they use capital punishment very effectively for their own purposes.
I have not commented on and am not commenting on the RCC’s criteria for sainthood.
This argument of yours is weak because : what is a deterrant for one may not be a deterrant for another. Living on death row for thirty years is far less preferable than being killed immediately. The reasons should be obvious. If not, let me give you a hint-prison is no fun. Being in prison on death row, not knowing when but knowing that you will be killed eventually, no bed of roses either. I think prison in itself is a detterant in itself. If that doesnt deter someone, I dont know what will.
The church’s position is not dogma. The church has not said that supporting capital punishment is grave matter and doing so excommunicates one from the church.
Those that deal with evil men understand in a way that those who sleep in peace at night while others take watch can never comprehend. I am glad to live in Texas, even more after this travesty of justice in Scotland. It has added data to the prudence of a death penalty.