Pope calls for end to death penalty out of respect for human dignity

[Mystical_Seeker]

Pope calls for end to death penalty out of respect for human dignity

A sample:

“It is impossible to imagine that today (there are) states which cannot make use of means other than capital punishment to defend the life of other persons from unjust aggressors,” he said.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which Pope Francis cited in his discourse, “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.” However, in a quote from St. John Paul II cited in the Catechism, such cases, “are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.”

During his speech, Pope Francis called on “all Christians and people of goodwill … to fight not only for the abolition of the death penalty be it legal or illegal, in all of its forms.” He also called the faithful to work toward “the improvement of prison conditions in the respect of the human dignity of those who have been deprived of freedom,” adding: “I link this to the death sentence.”

The Pope also compared the death penalty to life imprisonment, recalling that the Vatican Penal Code no longer employs life sentences.

“A life sentence is a death sentence which is concealed,” he said.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

Oops.

I misspelled “Euthanasia” in the poll option, but can’t figure out how to correct it.

 

[dmar198]

Pope calls for end to death penalty out of respect for human dignity

A sample:

“It is impossible to imagine that today (there are) states which cannot make use of means other than capital punishment to defend the life of other persons from unjust aggressors,” he said.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which Pope Francis cited in his discourse, “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.” However, in a quote from St. John Paul II cited in the Catechism, such cases, “are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.”

During his speech, Pope Francis called on “all Christians and people of goodwill … to fight not only for the abolition of the death penalty be it legal or illegal, in all of its forms.” He also called the faithful to work toward “the improvement of prison conditions in the respect of the human dignity of those who have been deprived of freedom,” adding: “I link this to the death sentence.”

The Pope also compared the death penalty to life imprisonment, recalling that the Vatican Penal Code no longer employs life sentences.

“A life sentence is a death sentence which is concealed,” he said.

I selected all of them, but I wouldn’t rank them as all being the same level of importance. For that, it would be:

Abortion
Euthanasia
Death Penalty
Human Trafficking

 

[RACJ]

IMO, the death penalty shows respect for human life, and justice for the victims of atrocities. E.g, those jihadists executed after the man was immolated was a common sense and admirable response. Rob

BTW, I would consider trafficking a pro-life issue IF it is being done within the confines of America. We can’t do much about it in foreign lands. Hash tags don’t cut it!

 

[dmar198]

BTW, I would consider trafficking a pro-life issue IF it is being done within the confines of America. We can’t do much about it in foreign lands. Hash tags don’t cut it!

It is my understanding that human trafficking is being done inside America, and that we can do something about bad stuff that happens in foreign lands.

 

[Seamus_L]

1 and 2.

 

[dmar198]

I selected all of them, but I wouldn’t rank them as all being the same level of importance. For that, it would be:

Abortion
Euthanasia
Death Penalty
Human Trafficking

Now that I think about it, maybe I should put human trafficking right under abortion, because I don’t think euthanasia and the death penalty take as many lives as human trafficking does.

 

[porthos11]

Now that I think about it, maybe I should put human trafficking right under abortion, because I don’t think euthanasia and the death penalty take as many lives as human trafficking does.

Human trafficking comes after Euthanasia, as it’s inherently evil (and mortally sinful), and yet less so because it does not necessarily target the helpless (it can and does, but unlike euthanasia and abortion which deliberately target who are by definition defenseless).

The death penalty is not come even remotely close as a moral issue, because it’s not inherently immoral (even though individual cases may be unjust, and therefore immoral), but the death penalty as a principle is not a moral issue.

 

[madtom]

well, the Pope is only looking at part of the equation. the death penalty is not only intended to keep society safe from the aggressor, it is also intended as a form of justice for the victims and as a deterrent. that being said I am against the death penalty because I believe no man has the right to take another man’s life except in self-defense.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

See, I keep going back and forth on this issue. I understand right to life from conception to natural death, but I am so for executing terrorists. Like, Vlad the Impaler style. Totally barbaric. This is so conflicting for me.

 

[dmar198]

Human trafficking comes after Euthanasia, as it’s inherently evil (and mortally sinful), and yet less so because it does not necessarily target the helpless (it can and does, but unlike euthanasia and abortion which deliberately target who are by definition defenseless).

When I think of euthanasia, what comes to mind is assisted suicide, like the Brittney Maynard case. Unless I’m missing something, that is a form of euthanasia, and its victim doesn’t seem defenseless.

I don’t say that to contradict you. I don’t mind if you rate euthanasia as a greater evil than human trafficking. I do think human trafficking probably ends more victims’ lives, but I don’t think anyone is bound to consider that as the only factor or to agree with me.

The death penalty is not come even remotely close as a moral issue, because it’s not inherently immoral (even though individual cases may be unjust, and therefore immoral), but the death penalty as a principle is not a moral issue.

I agree that capital punishment is not inherently immoral. One of the reasons I think it is up there with the other life issues, at least in America, is because I’m not aware of any individual case in America where the application of the death penalty is justified.

In fact, I think it is nearly impossible for our country to apply the death penalty justly, at least not as long as we have alternatives other than death. I think we ought to frame and pass a law or amendment making the death penalty illegal, with an exceptional clause permitting it in cases where a criminal cannot be stopped in any other way.

 

[McCall1981]

I selected all of them, but I wouldn’t rank them as all being the same level of importance. For that, it would be:

Abortion
Euthanasia
Death Penalty
Human Trafficking

I agree with this, except I would not include human trafficking.

 

[walnutleviosa]

I’m pro life, pro death penalty. I’m sticking to it.

 

[saintjohnxxiii]

This article was issued last October which has been discussed in other threads. What concerns me is his comments is his generalization about life imprisonment where he said in CNA: ““A life sentence is a death sentence which is concealed,” he said.”

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-calls-for-end-to-death-penalty-out-of-respect-for-human-dignity-79415/

I have no doubt that there are some cases where this could apply but he states in a very generalized way and with all the perverts and dangerous people, life imprisonment is necessary and humane form of punishment.

 

[J_Peterson]

IMO, the death penalty shows respect for human life, and justice for the victims of atrocities. E.g, those jihadists executed after the man was immolated was a common sense and admirable response. Rob

BTW, I would consider trafficking a pro-life issue IF it is being done within the confines of America. We can’t do much about it in foreign lands. Hash tags don’t cut it!

How can you promote a culture of life while supporting the death penalty? Vengence is never good.

For human trafficking in the US you only need to look around for “Asian massage parlors” and you’ll find it.

 

[J_Peterson]

See, I keep going back and forth on this issue. I understand right to life from conception to natural death, but I am so for executing terrorists. Like, Vlad the Impaler style. Totally barbaric. This is so conflicting for me.

Honestly I do too. After the Boston bombing for instance I was 100% for the death penalty for that kid (I can’t spell his name). Try and imagine where the desire for the death penalty is coming from and more than likely it’s purly on the intellectual and emotional level (i.e. the material level) that it seems like a good idea. If you look at it with your heart the answer will be very different.

 

[pnewton]

He’s the boss and I’m the grunt. As to those who are solidly pro-death penalty and will never change, I will acknowledge the need to adhere to one’s conscience, but:

1783 Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.

1784 The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart.

1785 In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.

Never be quick to say never. If we disagree with the Church on an issue, it is a call for use to strive to understand the mind of the Church, even if it takes place over the course of one’s life. There is no one in the Church more authoritative than the Holy Father. We dismiss him lightly at our own peril. We disagree as needed, but such action should be a challenge for us to educate ourselves.

 

[Ender]

I selected all of them, but I wouldn’t rank them as all being the same level of importance. For that, it would be:

Abortion
Euthanasia
Death Penalty
Human Trafficking

I cannot understand the significance people apply to the death penalty. Even if I opposed it I could not consider it more serious than the problem of human trafficking (even though this is a somewhat vague term). First, the number of people executed (at least in the US) is actually quite small, something under 50 a year, while the numbers involved in trafficking must number at least in the thousands. Second, capital punishment involves the guilty while trafficking involves the innocent; surely that cannot be an irrelevant distinction. And finally, both God and the church have acknowledged the justness of capital punishment (despite the recent opposition to its use), while we can be very sure they both strongly disapprove of human trafficking.

Ender

 

[Ender]

well, the Pope is only looking at part of the equation. the death penalty is not only intended to keep society safe from the aggressor, it is also intended as a form of justice for the victims and as a deterrent. that being said I am against the death penalty because I believe no man has the right to take another man’s life except in self-defense.

This is a fairly common belief, but it’s not what the church teaches. And thus that which is lawful to God is lawful for His ministers when they act by His mandate. It is evident that God who is the Author of laws, has every right to inflict death on account of sin. For “the wages of sin is death.” Neither does His minister sin in inflicting that punishment. The sense, therefore, of “Thou shalt not kill” is that one shall not kill by one’s own authority. (Catechism of St. Thomas)
Ender

 

[dmar198]

I cannot understand the significance people apply to the death penalty. … First, the number of people executed (at least in the US) is actually quite small, something under 50 a year, while the numbers involved in trafficking must number at least in the thousands.

I don’t know if you noticed, but I modified my opinion in a second post a bit later on grounds very similar to what you listed as “first”.

Initially, when I made my first response, somehow I read the words “human trafficking” and thought “deportation of immigrants.” I don’t know why that’s what I thought of, but I didn’t think that was as significant as death, so I put it as last. Before I hit submit, I realized that it was talking about slavery, not deportation, but the realization didn’t follow through to the point of thinking, “This shouldn’t be in last place anymore.” So I made that correction it in a subsequent post.