The death penalty

[Hermione]

I am somewhat confused about Church teaching about the death penalty.

I’ve read that the Church says the death penalty is a moral option only if it is the ONLY way to protect other people from the offender.

If there exists an option of restraining him without killing him, it should always be favored above the death penalty.

This would mean that in our society the death penalty should never be an option. After all, we can always keep the prisoners in isolation, restrained etc.

Is this correct?

Thanks!

 

[Catholic2003]

You see eye-to-eye with the Holy Father on this issue.

From Evangelium Vitae:

It is clear that, for these purposes to be achieved, the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.

 

[jp2fan]

Indeed. I just heard a talk by Sr. Helen Prejean and this was precisely her message.

 

[demolitionman65]

You’d never know it arguing with jimorr over in the In The News section (I’m too lazy to look up the thread).

He argues that these people escape and continue to menace the general population.

Frankly, I agree with you guys.

 

[tuopaolo]

demolitionman65:

You’d never know it arguing with jimorr over in the In The News section (I’m too lazy to look up the thread).

He argues that these people escape and continue to menace the general population.

Frankly, I agree with you guys.

Um, I haven’t read all of the thread but they do continue to menace the prison population. So that could be reason to execute them. Given the condition of today’s prisons it may be more merciful to minister execution.

And that Sister is no one to rely upon to get a good understanding of Church teaching:

Just yesterday, Sr. Helen Prejean, the famous pro-abortion foe of the death penalty was on TV criticizing the campaign to save Terri Schiavo as so much wasted effort when there were people without health insurance, etc. etc. At no point did she engage Terri’s right to life. A helpless disabled woman isn’t nearly as worthy an object of solicitude as a mass murderer, of course.
amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/2005/03/too_much.html

 

[pnewton]

Catholic2003:

You see eye-to-eye with the Holy Father on this issue.

From Evangelium Vitae:

It is the “Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.” That several of us were debating on the other thread. The very “improvements” to the penal system and the quality of life of prisoners often increases the danger to the public.

I was reading in our diocesan newspaper that the US bishops were soon going to begin a push to abolish the death penalty. I look forward to seeing what happens with this in the near future.

 

[jim_orr]

demolitionman65:

You’d never know it arguing with jimorr over in the In The News section (I’m too lazy to look up the thread).

He argues that these people escape and continue to menace the general population.

Frankly, I agree with you guys.

No, demolitionman65, I do not argue, “these people escape and continue to menace the general population.” I presented a 3 year multi-government investigation, which included the FBI, of the newest and most hi tech prison in California (Pelican Bay Prison) where prisoners sentenced for life are kept in isolation cells 23 out of 24 hours a day, with a glass front wall to allow constant observation, with nothing going into the cell without through inspection including x-rays, and the prisoner gets only 1 hour a day out of his cell to exercise alone in area smaller than a basketball court, resulted in 25 indictments of 8 prisoners for murder, drug trafficking, attempted murder, and robbery all conducted OUTSIDE the prison.

I argue against abolishing the death penalty because of the Church’s teaching. Abolishing it would go against the teaching in the CCC. And most certainly, ending it would violate the prolife teaching of the Church. One cannot advocate ending capital punishment based on "assumptions." It must be based on FACTS. The FACTS are against those who think it should be abolished. Supporting capital punishment is the prolife position.:yup:

Ps. Here’s the thread you couldn’t think of where we talked about this recently.Santorum rethinks death penalty stance It is located in the IN THE NEWS forum.

 

[jim_orr]

Hermione:

I am somewhat confused about Church teaching about the death penalty.

I’ve read that the Church says the death penalty is a moral option only if it is the ONLY way to protect other people from the offender.

If there exists an option of restraining him without killing him, it should always be favored above the death penalty.

This would mean that in our society the death penalty should never be an option. After all, we can always keep the prisoners in isolation, restrained etc.

Is this correct?

No. See my response to demolitionman65.

 

[dcmac]

You are half-correct. You are correct in understanding the position. You are not correct in the absolutism of its application.

Namely, because the human factor is unfortunately always at play in prisons of whatever degree we can not presume that there will never be a possibility in this country for one of these people to not continue on their mission of murder - whether that be inside the walls or outside them.

For the record, I hold that it is most often not necessary in this country and so I am in with you on that. However, as the son of a retired military and civil policeman and the friend of a DOC official here in Colorado I can assure you that the prison system is not as absolute as we would like. These people can, and do, still commit crime from inside prison. As such, I am still open to its use in those limited cases where they do continue to commit these crimes from prison, as the prison system has failed in those cases to protect society from their activities, which is the only valid reason for the relaxation of the act.

Never underestimate the genius of the criminal mind.

 

[mikev]

Catholic2003:

You see eye-to-eye with the Holy Father on this issue.

From Evangelium Vitae:

Quote:
It is clear that, for these purposes to be achieved, the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.

Does the “society” in the quote include the prison society, as well as the general population? Im not sure. If it does, that would bring another dimension to the question.