What are your views on capital punishment?

[distracted]

What religion are you and what are your views on this subject?

Do you think capital punishment is as bad as or almost as bad as abortion?

Do you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position?

thanks…

(Today’s Mass readings seem to address this issue)

 

[brigantine]

I’m Eastern Orthodox and I’m a believer in Capital Punishment.!

 

[distracted]

I’m Eastern Orthodox and I’m a believer in Capital Punishment.!

in what circumstances?

do you think only certain crimes should be considered?

Some people think child molestation should be one of the crimes punishable by death (if its the 3rd offense or something like that).

I tend to think cap punishment should only be for murder…

I believe the pope says it should only be used when there is no other way to keep a murderer locked up for life…

 

[brigantine]

I believe in it for, Murder, rape, and child molestation.

 

[JoePep62]

Blessings to all. I’m Roman Catholic and I’m against capital punishment. The killing of sinners is final - it does not allow the sinner redemption. The question will be asked “how about the victim, what chance of redemption did that person have?”

The answer goes back to why we’re here to begin with. Our purpose in life is to love and worship God with all our hearts, our minds, and our souls. Terrible and unfortunate things will happen to us in this world because sin exists - but if we have maintained a strong relationship with God throughout our lives, then we * will be in God’s glory. Be prepared.

Our Holiness’ position on capital punishment [only when there is no other way] is and will always be a rarity. Personally, I find capital punishment is measure of how society has failed. To kill a sinner for his/her crimes is to be void of compassion and humility. It is society’s way of not dealing with the sinner to assist him/her back into society.

Abortion falls also in the same category. It is a way of measuring how society has failed terribly. Why do women abort their babies? Probably because they feel that they have no hope in dealing with the responsibility. And why don’t they have hope? How have we helped them through a time that should be blessed and yet, they feel it’s a terrible time in their lives?

Hope this helps in the discussion.

God bless you*

 

[SingleMomMonica]

What religion are you and what are your views on this subject?

Do you think capital punishment is as bad as or almost as bad as abortion?

Do you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position?

thanks…

(Today’s Mass readings seem to address this issue)

I am Roman Catholic and I believe what the Catholic Church teaches, namely that Capital Punishment IS a valid form of punishment per the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2267: **“Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, 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.” **

And No, abortion and capital punishment are no where near each other in any manner.

Abortion is an Evil Condemned by the Catholic Church and has been traditionally so.

Capital Punishment is Justice and is NOT Condemned by the Catholic Church and traditionally has never excluded recourse to the death penalty.

 

[JoePep62]

I am Roman Catholic and I believe what the Catholic Church teaches, namely that Capital Punishment IS a valid form of punishment per the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2267: **“Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, 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.” **

And No, abortion and capital punishment are no where near each other in any manner.

Abortion is an Evil Condemned by the Catholic Church and has been traditionally so.

Capital Punishment is Justice and is NOT Condemned by the Catholic Church and traditionally has never excluded recourse to the death penalty.

Peace to you Monica…My comparison of capital punishment and abortion was not meant to contradict the Catechism but to address the issue of how some societies have failed to assist the sinner/expected mother. And you’re absolutely right; abortion is completely evil [no argument there] whereas capital punishment is a permissable way to protect society from those that cannot be rehabilitated or secured.

Blessings to you

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

I fully support the Church’s position: though not wrong in itself, it is a most extreme act that must only be resorted to with regard for that fact, as reflected in the circumstances of the society.

Personally, I’ve always opposed it on pragmatic grounds. As much as I support the rule of law, I also recognize that our system of “justice” (due process of law, in fact) has erred, is erring, and will err in the future. So a question arises: how does one go about fixing a mistake in the application of capital punishment? If you can’t fix the mistake, then what business do we have applying it?

Blessings,

Gerry

 

[PoliSciProf]

I am opposed to most capital punishment since there are too many instances of false conviction, poor legal represenation and errors in evidence. I am aware of a murder case (the alleged perpetrator received life imprisonment w/o parole) that is being appealed because the FBI lab used an invalid test and then lied about it in court and because the lead forensic investigator lied about his credentials (he had none!) and then lied about his bench notes in court (he has since committed suicide) and in which the defense attorney was simply in over her head when it came to scientific forensics. That said, there is a place for capital punishment albiet limited. I would apply it in cases of contract murder, murder of a policeman, firefighter or judge in the peformance of their duties, the use of violence to intimidate witnesses and mass terrorism since these strike at the very foundation of civil society. I would also apply it to the kidnapping and murder of a child and torture murder since these crimes call out for the highest penalty. Even then, there must be stingent rules of evidence and competent defense counsel.

 

[O.S.Luke]

In the modern world, there is virtually no reason to use capital punishment. That’s not just my opinion, but also the words from the Catechism, if I am not mistaken.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2266 The State’s effort to contain the spread of behaviors injurious to human rights and the fundamental rules of civil coexistence corresponds to the requirement of watching over the common good. Legitimate public authority has the right and duty to inflict penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime. The primary scope of the penalty is to redress the disorder caused by the offense. When his punishment is voluntarily accepted by the offender, it takes on the value of expiation. Moreover, punishment, in addition to preserving public order and the safety of persons, has a medicinal scope: as far as possible it should contribute to the correction of the offender.[67]

2267 The traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude, presupposing full ascertainment of the identity and responsibility of the offender, recourse to the death penalty, when this is the only practicable way to defend the lives of human beings effectively against the aggressor.
"If, instead, bloodless means are sufficient to defend against the aggressor and to protect the safety of persons, public authority should limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.
"Today, in fact, given the means at the State’s disposal to effectively repress crime by rendering inoffensive the one who has committed it, without depriving him definitively of the possibility of redeeming himself, cases of absolute necessity for suppression of the offender ‘today … are very rare, if not practically non-existent.’ [68]

Ethically, abortion and capital punishment are both premeditated acts leading to death outside of war or self-defense - in essence, the legal definition of murder. On the death certificate of one executed, the cause of death is listed as “homicide - by state execution.”

That’s problematic.

O+

 

[Publisher]

I am a Friend…while the Society of Friends strongly denounce capital punishment as barbaric… against the gospel of Christ…I have my doubts. I firmly believe it is against the gospel of Christ…but in a violent society it may under extreme circumstances be permissible.

I lean more toward Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s stance…while he was convinced that killing was wrong…and a sin…he was “forced” to make a decision and become part of a consipiacy to kill Hitler…he accepted the evil he was going to be a part of by taking another man’s life…he was willing to face God’s judgement on the matter…but Hitler had to be stopped.

The attempt failed…and Bonhoeffer was hanged.

I believe capital punishment is wrong…but I would be willing to face God’s judgement on the matter if I was convinced it had to happen to safegaurd the innocent from any further violence at the hands of a murderer.

 

[Soutane]

I am Roman Catholic and I believe what the Catholic Church teaches, namely that Capital Punishment IS a valid form of punishment per the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2267: **“Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, 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.” **

And No, abortion and capital punishment are no where near each other in any manner.

Abortion is an Evil Condemned by the Catholic Church and has been traditionally so.

Capital Punishment is Justice and is NOT Condemned by the Catholic Church and traditionally has never excluded recourse to the death penalty.

I agree with you,Monica.With the proviso that it be used in extreme cases wherein guilt is beyond doubt.Justice cried out that Eichmann be executed for his crimes against the Jews and the rest of humanity.
Even though Israel does not have the death penalty,they hanged him and justifiably.

 

[Fludgecow101]

Blessings to all. I’m Roman Catholic and I’m against capital punishment. The of sinners is final - it does not allow the sinner redemption. The question will be asked “how about the victim, what chance of redemption did that person have?”

The answer goes back to why we’re here to begin with. Our purpose in life is to love and worship God with all our hearts, our minds, and our souls. Terrible and unfortunate things will happen to us in this world because sin exists - but if we have maintained a strong relationship with God throughout our lives, then we * will be in God’s glory. Be prepared.

Our Holiness’ position on capital punishment [only when there is no other way] is and will always be a rarity. Personally, I find capital punishment is measure of how society has failed. To kill a sinner for his/her crimes is to be void of compassion and humility. It is society’s way of not dealing with the sinner to assist him/her back into society.

Abortion falls also in the same category. It is a way of measuring how society has failed terribly. Why do women abort their babies? Probably because they feel that they have no hope in dealing with the responsibility. And why don’t they have hope? How have we helped them through a time that should be blessed and yet, they feel it’s a terrible time in their lives?

Hope this helps in the discussion.

God bless you*
Exactly what I had in mind except you explained it better. This bring in mind the story of I think St. Maria (Gretta?). The guy that killed her (who was in the late teens)later came to Christ and I think even joined a monastary in the few last years of his life.
I’d just like to add though, don’t you think some prisoners would rather just die than spending the rest of their lives.

 

[JonNC]

What religion are you and what are your views on this subject?

Do you think capital punishment is as bad as or almost as bad as abortion?

Do you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position?

thanks…

(Today’s Mass readings seem to address this issue)

I personally think it should be used sparingly, and only under certain circumstances, such as treason. The LCMS says this;

Q. What is the official stance of the Missouri Synod on the death penalty?

A. In 1967, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod stated its position “that capital punishment is in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.” Resolution 2-38 of the New York convention of the Synod reads as follows:

"Whereas, Various church bodies have condemned capital punishment in recent years; and

"Whereas, God’s Word supports capital punishment (Gen. 9:6; Lev. 24:17; Ex. 21:12; Num. 35:21; Deut. 19:11; Rom. 13:4; Acts 25:11; and

"Whereas, The Lutheran Confessions support capital punishment:

"Therefore neither God nor the government is included in this commandment, yet their right to take human life is not abrogated. God has delegated His authority of punishing evil-doers to civil magistrates in place of parents; in early times, as we read in Moses, parents had to bring their own children to judgment and sentence them to death. Therefore what is forbidden here applies to private individuals, not to governments. (Large Catechism I, 180 to 181 [Tappert, p. 389])

“Therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod declare that capital punishment is in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.”

This does not mean that everyone who belongs to the LCMS or is a member of an LCMS congregation is conscience-bound to support the death penalty. Individuals within the LCMS may, for various valid reasons, object to the usefulness and fairness of the death penalty as it is being used or considered within a particular governmental system. Although it is clear from Scripture that the government has the God-given right to use the death penalty, the LCMS has not taken the position that the government must use this right if it determines that some other form of punishment would better serve society at large at a particular time and place.

Jon

 

[Contarini]

What religion are you and what are your views on this subject?

I’m a Christian, though I suspect you meant something more specific. I’m Episcopalian (though that is *not *my “religion”).

Do you think capital punishment is as bad as or almost as bad as abortion?

Not if it is just, no. Abortion takes innocent human life. Capital punishment of a murderer does not. However, I oppose capital punishment in practice for at least two reasons:

1. The number of innocent people condemned appears to be disturbingly high. Perhaps this is true in any justice system, but that only reinforces the next reason:
2. Even though it is just to execute murderers, justice does not *require *punishment. Mercy is always an option. And as Christians we should act mercifully whenever doing so will not harm the innocent. Therefore, capital punishment should only be administered when sparing the life of the guilty person will put the innocent in serious danger. By that standard, I see no reason for capital punishment in our society. Perhaps in other social contexts, such as the Old West, it was/is necessary.

Do you agree with the Roman Catholic Church’s position?

Enthusiastically and wholeheartedly, as I understand it.

Edwin

 

[Cluny]

Jesus gave the qualifcations for the executioners in John 8.

 

[JoePep62]

Exactly what I had in mind except you explained it better. This bring in mind the story of I think St. Maria (Gretta?). The guy that killed her (who was in the late teens)later came to Christ and I think even joined a monastary in the few last years of his life.
I’d just like to add though, don’t you think some prisoners would rather just die than spending the rest of their lives.

Blessings and peace to you…our roles as Catholics is to spead the Good News. And the Good News provides hope to the those that feel have no hope to live. What a wonderful thing it would be if we could bring one of those prisoners, who feel that they’d rather be dead, the hope of Christ. And seeing that person become something greater than he could ever imagine - a miracle.

 

[JoePep62]

Jesus gave the qualifcations for the executioners in John 8.

Thank you Cluny for giving me the apportunity to read such a beautiful passage in the Bible. See link below.

usccb.org/nab/bible/john/john8.htm

Talk about providing hope to a sinner… go and sin no more. Jesus granted the sinner to choose Him over sin. To choose Life over death. To choose Light over darkness.

 

[prodigal-sun]

I’m Catholic, I’m also pretty much against capital punishment. We have the ability to protect society from convicted criminals that now face the death penalty. I don’t think it is as neccessary as it once was.

That is just my take on things, Peace.

 

[Arclight]

I am opposed to most capital punishment since there are too many instances of false conviction, poor legal represenation and errors in evidence. …

Can you quantify the error rate? The legal system is satisfied with a definition of justice that relies heavily on following a process, so errors are a natural, inevitable and within acceptable limits, part of this kind of system. This is important because your arguments are addressed not to the DP per se but to procedural and related flaws in implementing it.