Clarification on the Catholic stance on the death penalty?

[Obsidion]

I wanted to make sure that I understand the CC’s stance on the death penalty. From what I’ve read, the Church only allows the death penalty to be used in cases where there would be absolutely no other way to protect the rest of society unless that person was to be executed. But since our prison/justice system is set up in such a way that the punishment of life imprisonment as opposed to execution has been proven to be effective, for that reason, the CC is against the death penalty. Is this right, or am I wrong? And if I am wrong, can someone explain it to me in easy terms? I’m having a tough time understanding what I’m reading on different Catholic websites.

 

[Rau]

I wanted to make sure that I understand the CC’s stance on the death penalty. From what I’ve read, the Church only allows the death penalty to be used in cases where there would be absolutely no other way to protect the rest of society unless that person was to be executed. But since our prison/justice system is set up in such a way that the punishment of life imprisonment as opposed to execution has been proven to be effective, for that reason, the CC is against the death penalty. Is this right, or am I wrong? And if I am wrong, can someone explain it to me in easy terms? I’m having a tough time understanding what I’m reading on different Catholic websites.

I assume you have read the short section on the Catechism on the subject.
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm

The Church’s position on the death penalty is subject to much discussion. In particular:

• For a very long time, the Church has taught that the death penalty is permissible;
• There is some debate as to whether the Church’s longstanding teaching incorporated a proviso that the death penalty is only acceptable when “death”, as opposed to some other punishment, was necessary to protect society, or whether that proviso is relatively recent;
• The CCC (2267) asserts that the Church’s teaching has always incorporated that proviso, though it seems difficult to find written historical statements that make such a proviso explicit.
• The CCC (2267) expresses the view now that the death penalty should not be used except where necessary to protect society.
• There is debate as to whether this last statement is to be understood as ‘doctrine’ or the prudential judgement of the Pope(s) who have expressed this position.

More reading:
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=8506

There are many Threads on this subject on CAF. Search for Thread Titles “Death Penalty” and “Capital Punishment”.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

The Catholic position on the acceptable use of force in self-defense, capital punishment, or just war is always a very serious matter of informed conscience and prudential judgment. Those, like pacifists, who try to oversimplify such issues are really not doing us a favor. To say that; because we have prisons, the state doesn’t need deadly force, does not solve the problem of violent crime.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

I don’t support the death penalty for any crime for the following reasons:

Firstly, if one innocent person has been put to death (this has been done) then that is too high a price to pay.

Secondly, the death penalty has never reduced/eliminated or scared people from committing the crimes it was introduced for in any country it is enforced in.

Thirdly, any person can change their life around at any stage.

Lastly, I believe every life is sacred regardless of what that person has done.

 

[Obsidion]

I don’t support the death penalty for any crime for the following reasons:

Firstly, if one innocent person has been put to death (this has been done) then that is too high a price to pay.

Secondly, the death penalty has never reduced/eliminated or scared people from committing the crimes it was introduced for in any country it is enforced in.

Thirdly, any person can change their life around at any stage.

Lastly, I believe every life is sacred regardless of what that person has done.

I agree with you 100%. I just wanted to know the CC’s official teaching on it though since the sources I’ve read are confusing me. And my dad once told me that the CC reversed its original anti-death penalty stance, so I wanted to know if that was true or not.

 

[Rau]

I agree with you 100%. I just wanted to know the CC’s official teaching on it though since the sources I’ve read are confusing me. And my dad once told me that the CC reversed its original anti-death penalty stance, so I wanted to know if that was true or not.

Does post #2 answer your question?

 

[Obsidion]

Does post #2 answer your question?

Yes and I appreciate you sharing that information with me. Thank you!

 

[Ender]

Firstly, if one innocent person has been put to death (this has been done) then that is too high a price to pay.

Whether we choose to execute or not, innocent people may die. While it is often asserted that innocent people have been executed, this is only a presumption. It has not been shown to be true (in the US at least since it was allowed in 1973). Even if we assume it is true, however, it is surely true that prisoners who have been incarcerated for one murder and not executed have gone on to commit others, both in and out of prisons. There is no completely safe choice here; innocents are at risk either way.

Secondly, the death penalty has never reduced/eliminated or scared people from committing the crimes it was introduced for in any country it is enforced in.

There is no way this can be known, and it seems unlikely in the extreme. All punishments deter some and it is not credible to believe that only the severest penalty of all deters no one.*Homicide is rare among slaves because of their dread and fear of capital punishment, whereas among the rich it is constantly committed because of their confident hope of immunity. *
(Salvian, On the Government of God, Bk IV, ch 5)

Thirdly, any person can change their life around at any stage.

The catechism itself cites an example of capital punishment being the source of just such a reformation.(CCC 2266) Moreover, punishment, in addition to preserving public order and the safety of persons, has a medicinal scope: as far as possible it should contribute to the correction of the offender.(67)
*(67) Lk 23: 40-43 - ref the salvation of the good thief *

Lastly, I believe every life is sacred regardless of what that person has done.

Life is surely sacred, which is why God taught that the person who unjustly takes the life of another forfeits his own.(CCC 2260) *For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning… Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image. *(Gn 5:6)
Ender

 

[SAVINGRACE]

Whether we choose to execute or not, innocent people may die. While it is often asserted that innocent people have been executed, this is only a presumption. It has not been shown to be true (in the US at least since it was allowed in 1973). Even if we assume it is true, however, it is surely true that prisoners who have been incarcerated for one murder and not executed have gone on to commit others, both in and out of prisons. There is no completely safe choice here; innocents are at risk either way.
There is no way this can be known, and it seems unlikely in the extreme. All punishments deter some and it is not credible to believe that only the severest penalty of all deters no one.*Homicide is rare among slaves because of their dread and fear of capital punishment, whereas among the rich it is constantly committed because of their confident hope of immunity. *
(Salvian, On the Government of God, Bk IV, ch 5)
The catechism itself cites an example of capital punishment being the source of just such a reformation.(CCC 2266) Moreover, punishment, in addition to preserving public order and the safety of persons, has a medicinal scope: as far as possible it should contribute to the correction of the offender.(67)
*(67) Lk 23: 40-43 - ref the salvation of the good thief *
Life is surely sacred, which is why God taught that the person who unjustly takes the life of another forfeits his own.(CCC 2260) *For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning… Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image. *(Gn 5:6)
Ender

Thank you for your reply.

I still oppose the death penalty for ANY crime and thank God I live in a civilized country that no longer practices the barbaric act.

 

[Ender]

I still oppose the death penalty for ANY crime and thank God I live in a civilized country that no longer practices the barbaric act.

I understand your opposition to its use; it is a feeling a lot of people share. It is worth remembering, however, that it is a practice the church has always recognized as a legitimate right of States to employ, and if the church considers it in that light perhaps it is less barbaric than you suppose.

Ender