Death penalty
The UK is one of the countries that does not have the the death penaltyA form of punishment which involves a person being put to death for their crime. Also referred to as captial punishment., also known as capital punishment.
Many countries still have capital punishment. Some only have the death penalty for the most serious crimes while others have the death penalty, but have not used it in recent years.
Traditionally Catholic Christianity allowed the death penalty, although it taught that it should only be acceptable if the identity of the criminal could be 100% confirmed in order to protect society. However, it has recently become a subject with divided views in the Church.
Today, the Catholic Church does not agree with the death penalty, as it goes against the commandment not to kill (Exodus 20:13). In addition, the Church teaches that life is a gift from God, therefore God alone has the power to take life.
Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offence incapable of doing harm--without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself--the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are rare, if not practically non-existent.
The belief is that the death penalty allows governments to 鈥榩lay God鈥 and take control for the lives of other people. The Catholic Church teaches that reform is the ultimate aim of punishment, I am the living God, I do not enjoy seeing sinners die. I would rather see them stop sinning and live
(Ezekiel 33:11).
In addition, some people argue that in certain cases an innocent person has been mistakenly put to death, and posthumousAfter death. investigations have proven the individual innocent.
In Evangelium Vitae, a Church document on the value of human life, Pope John Paul II identifies that in some, rare cases, where it would otherwise not be possible to defend the rest of society, capital punishment may be the only option. However, the document goes on to state that such circumstances are practically non-existent.
Catholic arguments in favour of the death penalty
Some Catholics argue that the death penaltyA form of punishment which involves a person being put to death for their crime. Also referred to as captial punishment. helps to maintain order and protection in society. They would say this for the following reasons.
- The BibleThe holy book of Christians split into two sections: Old Testament and New Testament. sets down the death penalty for some crimes, so it must be acceptable to God. This is often seen as retributionA punishment considered to be morally right and to fit the crime. In simple terms, this means revenge..
- St Thomas AquinasA Christian monk and theologian (1225 - 1274) who developed the Just War theory. argued that peace in society was more important than reforming the sinner. He reflects the Catholic Church's teaching that the protection of the whole of society is more important than the individual.
Catholic arguments against the death penalty
Some Catholics would argue that the death penalty can never be justified. They would say this for the following reasons.
- The belief that Jesus Christ came to Earth to reform sinners, as he did with the woman caught in adultery in JohnA writer of one of the four gospels in the New Testament. 8:1-11.
- Jesus amended the Old Testament teaching on retribution in MatthewA writer of one of the four gospels in the New Testament. 5:38-39 when he said:
You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
- The Catholic Church believes in the sanctity of life, that life is holy and belongs to God and therefore only God has the power to take life. In RomansRomans or The Epistle to the Romans is a letter by St Paul and is the sixth book in the New Testament. 12:17-19 it states:
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody 鈥 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to revenge; I will repay, says the Lord'.
Question
Explain the Catholic Church鈥檚 stance on the death penalty.
The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty is wrong, as it goes against the commandment not to kill. The Church believes that as God created life, only God should have the ability and power to take it away. Some Catholics may argue that the purpose of punishment is reformation, but this is impossible once a person is put to death. In addition, some people may use the argument that innocent people have been put to death only for their names to be cleared years later after it's too late. If mistakes have happened before, then they can happen again.