Need information on the punishment of criminals from Catholic viewpoint

[ItrustJesus]

Hi there,

I have to write a paper on the punishment of criminals. I want to write it from a Catholic perspective.

Can someone recommend:

1. A book that deals with punishment of criminals from a Catholic viewpoint.
2. Any writings of Pope John Paul or other Catholics on this area.

Thank you.

 

[Maranatha]

Start by searching and quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Here is a recent article on the death penalty from His Excellency, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.

 

[ItrustJesus]

Many thanks for your helpful suggestions.

God bless.

 

[LSK]

I would also look for writings by Sister Helen Prejean. She has worked with men on death row and their victims, and is the nun who was the subject of the movie Dead Man Walking. Sister Prejean has written extensively on the subject of prison reform and punishment and is said to have helped JPII articulate the Catholic stand on Capital Punishment as the Holy Mother Church enters Her Third Millenium

 

[MulusChristi]

Hello,
Sr. Prejean is about as far to the left as you can get on capital punishment. Try balancing her with Cardinal Dulles’ article in First Things:

leaderu.com/ftissues/ft0104/articles/dulles.html

He makes an interesting argument that the West’s current abhorance of CP is due to the rise of secularism.

Best regards