The Catechism is clear. Only under the most dire of circumstances are people to be executed. Yes, it is a “prudential judgment,” but this does not mean we are free to ignore it. It simply means there are times when it is acceptable to execute, meaning if the only way to protect society from the criminal. The cases where it is necessary are very few and far between. To eagerly desire execution is not justice, but vengeance.
The power given to civil authorities is granted to them by God. Remember what Jesus said to pilot. Now if you can’t stomach putting a bullet into the head of a rapist or murderer that is understandable, many can’t. Much like many can’t stomach putting a bullet into a rabid dog because of sentimental reasons. We are called to work for justice some times its not an easy thing to do. Just step back and we’ll take out the trash.
Justice is the virtue of paying one what one is due. Revenge is giving in to the passion that requires that you must be allowed recompense for a wrong or perceived wrong. Revenge is driven by emotion. Justice is determined by divine law.
Would you say that the instances where capital punishment is acceptable would tend to occur in a particular society, or does it have more to do with the criminal?
Yes, but that doesn’t mean that all done by civil authorities amounts to a rightful use of that authority, as I’m sure you would admit. Again, your use of the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira to justify capital punishment is absurd. There are far more persuasive passages to use, for example, Romans 13:4. For the record, I’m personally opposed to the use of capital punishment, but I take seriously an argument in favor of capital punishment that uses Romans 13:4. I find one based on the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira to be ridiculous.
It has more to do with the society, but there are instances that it is the nature of the criminal that plays a role. Since this seems like no answer at all, I will provide examples.
Isn’t Justice simply Revenge served cold?
Thank you, those examples make good sense. What would you say for someone who commits murder while incarcerated in the US?
I do not have an answer right now. I will have to put some thought into this.
Nope. One is a virtue, one is a passion. Read your Aquinas.
StTommyMore said:
thats your opnion but a lot of catholics disagree with you. In fact I am wathcing america’s most wanted right now on child sex trafficing in asia. A lot of these pedophiles in my opinion should be executed. Its also my opinion and the opinion of others, that in some cases child rape is worse than murder. In fact I think some catholic priests who were serial molesters should be executed. Its ridiculous were even having this discussion. I doubt Pope Pius XII had the same opinion in regard to capital punishment. Maybe the liberals are right when they say this church is out of touch.I was a Respect Life Conference a week ago. There were many bishops, religious, lay people, theologians, scientists and so forth from entire Southeast USA. The one thing that the bishops repeated over and over again was Pope John Paul’s and Pope Benedict’s assertion that killing is never a morally acceptable form of restitution or comfort for the victim.
It was rather interesting when it was put in the perspective of the martyrs. How many martyrs have we had in our history and the Church has never said that restitution should be sought. The Church and the families of the martyrs have accepted the tragedy, not as the will of God, because it is not God’s will that we kill someone, but has accepted it as something that is out of our control. It happened and there was nothing that anyone could do to save these men and women.
My own sister was killed in September. It happened. It’s over. Killing those who killed her is not an acceptable response. I will not condone it or seek to make it happen. It was not God’s will that she be killed. But it is God’s will that I forgive.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
While I understand and accept your 3 examples, it still seems to me that #2 should be evitable without death. Perhaps by relocation to a “Supermax” thousands of miles from his network.
I think at least part of the answer is in the fact that the power that the government holds is not simply the power to do whatever they wish. There must be parameters they work under, and if that, why not Catholic parameters?
I have several books by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and Dennis Prager, both thoughtful Jews who provide clear reasoning.
You have to realize though that these individuals can repent for their crimes. Lets look at the life of St. Maria Goretti, a neighbor tried to rape her and then stabbed her to death. He was sent to prison and while in prison Maria came to him in a dream and gave him flowers. Immediately after this he repented and lived a reformed life, he even attended her canonization at St. Peter’s. I think that in some cases the criminal’s background plays a large role in how they grow up. Depending on if their poor or not, live in a bad area, had no father or parents growing up, abused as a child…etc all these factor into how an individual grows up within a society. We shouldn’t judge these people. I hope you come to realize this at some point in your life. God Bless!