Pope revises catechism to say death penalty is 'inadmissible'

[HarryStotle]

I don’t see the controversy. This is pro life in all its reality

Hypothetical question regarding “pro-life.”

Is there any point when a human being, by their own actions, forfeits their own right to life?

If God, in the final judgement, condemns someone to eternal death (or hell, as in permanent separation from Life itself), is God, at that point, NOT being “pro-life in all its reality?”

 

[Peebo]

God doesn’t condemn anyone to hell…people do that through their own actions…God sent his only son that ALL may be saved…that means we ALL have the chance of eternal life through the sacrifice which Jesus Christ gave to ALL of us…and what we commemorate at each mass

 

[bobperk]

The change does seem to be a development of doctrine which affirms the necessity of capital punishment in the past but seeks abolition in the present day. There is not a teaching that we are obligated to execute a prisoner for a crime. God knows how many innocent people were executed over the years.

But I am still not sure if this change can be considered a liberalization of past practices, or a more conservative application of the fifth commandment.

 

[AlNg]

“Inadmissible” says nothing of things being intrinsically evil.

Can something which is an attack on human dignity be intrinsically good?

 

[mrsdizzyd]

mrsdizzyd:

“Inadmissible” says nothing of things being intrinsically evil.

Can something which is an attack on human dignity be intrinsically good?

Your premise assumes a false dichotomy. In reality, there are many more choice and a lot of gray.

 

[exnihilo]

In what sense does the death penalty rob a person of their human dignity that, say, life in prison or in solitary confinement wouldn’t, likewise, rob them of their dignity?

What exactly is human dignity and how is it preserved and when is it eligible to be reduced or taken away, if ever? Which other actions of civil authority rob people of their dignity? Doesn’t the mere act of a police officer shooting a perpetrator or arresting them also rob them of their dignity?

It is a good question. I don’t expect an explanation because I don’t think there is one. I mean does God rob me of my human dignity when I die which will be according to his will? I don’t think so.

 

[Melodeonist]

If prison has many benefits, some will commit crimes just for the free stuff. Prison and the like simply must be about punishment. Otherwise it’s too prone to abuse.

Every change like this only pushes me closer to the SSPX.

 

[pnewton]

Quite frankly, I’m tired of this fake morality…

Morality is not fake. I get that those who are not Catholic may see the teaching of the Church as “fake”, but the Church was around long before Trump got everyone to use the word “fake” for anything they disagree with. This teaching of the Pope is not “fake” in any proper sense of the word.

 

[pnewton]

you can change one thing in the Catechism, you can change everything.

This is not a true statement at all. It is also not a logical conclusion. It is like saying if a tiger can be a cat, then any animal can be a cat. The Church has been changing for all of its 2000 year history.