Wrong man executed in Texas (1989)

[Ender]

Well that’s simple. 2267 tells you that. The punishment should not be the state killing people except in very rare if not non existent cases.

You have just blown off 2266 as if it was irrelevant. You just declared that all of the catechism needed to be dealt with, not just one or two passages so how is it that you can so easily dismiss 2266? Your response to everything is the same: 2267. The Church, even within the same catechism, says things that conflict with the common interpretation of 2267 and you have not dealt with any of it. Ignoring it is not dealing with it.

Ender

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Civil rulers determine what punishments to impose. That does not mean that the punishments they inflict are in fact commensurate with the crimes. The severity of a crime does not change from one place or time to another and neither should the punishment.

The end of your last sentence would be an ideal. However, regardless of the severity of a crime, the level of punishment for a crime is wholly up to the imperfect civil authorities. Hanging children for theft is certainly a case where the punishment does not fit the crime. The “Three Strikes and You’re Out” laws in some states has caused some injustices. There may never be a perfect fit between crime and punishment. We are imperfect people and it’s part of being human. I would say that even if the burden of imposing and carrying out death sentences were shifted to the Catholic Church, mistakes would sometimes be made, howsoever perfect the Church is.

I do agree, however, that some punishments as doled out are not commensurate with a crime; some people get a short sentence for robbery, some get the book thrown at them. There are harsh judges, and some easy ones - “Let 'em Loose Bruce” in NYC some decades ago comes to mind. A man may be convicted of Capital Murder when 3rd Degree Murder would be more appropriate.

One thing is certain. A lesser sentence doesn’t leave an innocent person dead if a mistake in sentencing and execution is later uncovered.

 

[randirhoades]

We’re doing prison all wrong. Rather than give them weights and exercise equipment, I would forbid exercise and make 'em watch TV (just good, clean stuff) and eat Twinkies and Ding Dongs, and ice cream all day. That way, they’d be way too out of shape when they got out to do violence to anyone.

Well, Cardiologists would be having a field day and would be raising the roof! hahaha. This was great and thank you for the hardy har har. I needed it.

Love ya’ll,
Sheila is my real name.