Mercy, Justice, and the Gospel of Life: US bishops on ending the death penalty

Last updated on: July 20, 2015 at 6:25 pm by CNA Daily News

Mercy, Justice, and the Gospel of Life: US bishops on ending the death penalty 2015-07-20T18:25:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Jul 20, 2015 / 12:25 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Two leading U.S. bishops have renewed the call to choose life over the death penalty because, they say, heinous criminals deserve both justice and mercy – their lives too are from God.

“As Christians, we are called to oppose the culture of death by witnessing to something greater and more perfect: a gospel of life, hope, and mercy. To help build a culture of life, capital punishment should be abolished,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami said in a message on behalf of two major U.S. bishops’ committees.

They cited one of Christ’s Beatitudes: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Cardinal O’Malley signed the July 16 message in his role as chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, while Archbishop Wenski signed as chair of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

“We are all sinners, but through the Father’s loving mercy and Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice upon the Cross, we have been offered the gift of life everlasting,” the bishops said. “The Lord never ceases his loving pursuit of us in our sin and brokenness, offering us the choice of life over death.”

“The use of the death penalty cuts short any prospect for transforming the condemned person’s soul in this life. Catholic opposition to the death penalty, then, is rooted in mercy. It is also eminently pro-life, as it affords every opportunity for conversion, even of the hardened sinner,” they continued.

The two bishops’ message comes 10 years after the U.S. bishops began a campaign against the death penalty. In 2005, the U.S. bishops issued the anti-death penalty statement, “A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death.”

Since 2005, at least seven states have ended the use of the death penalty, Archbishop Wenski and Cardinal O’Malley noted. Other states have placed moratoria on executions. The number of death sentences is at an all-time low since 1976.

The two bishops invoked Pope Francis’ March 20 words to a delegation from the International Commission against the Death Penalty, which declared capital punishment “inadmissible, no matter how serious the crime committed.”

“It is an offense against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person, one which contradicts God’s plan for man and society and his merciful justice, and impedes the penalty from fulfilling any just objective,” the Pope said. “It does not render justice to the victims, but rather fosters vengeance.”

Cardinal O’Malley and Archbishop Wenski called on everyone of goodwill to “advocate for better public policies to protect society and end the use of the death penalty.”

The bishops urged prayers for crime victims, for those facing execution and for those working in the criminal justice system. They encouraged outreach and “bringing Christ’s love and compassion” to the families of those affected by violent crime.

In addition, they encouraged people to learn about the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty and to educate others.

They said that Church teaching on the death penalty is not indifference to “the sinfulness of crime and attacks on human life.” Rather, it is “an affirmation of the sacredness of all life even for those who have committed the most heinous of crimes.”

They noted that violent crime has affected bishops like Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas. The archbishop’s own father was murdered. However, Archbishop Naumann has said that the refusal of the death penalty is not because we reject “the horror of the crime,” but because “we refuse to imitate violent criminals.”

Cardinal O’Malley and Archbishop Wenski urged solidarity and support for crime victims and their families and to help them in their deep pain and loss. They also asked everyone to remember criminals.

“We also acknowledge the inherent human dignity of those who have committed grave harm, affirming that, even as they repay a debt to society, they too should receive compassion and mercy,” the bishops added. “As we seek to tend to the eternal needs of those who commit serious crimes we must build up a culture of life in matters of justice and punishment.”

Previous Post

July 19, 2015

Bible publisher wins permanent victory over HHS mandate

Next Post

July 20, 2015 US and Cuba re-open embassies – Will lifting the embargo be next?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm is a prayer of repentance after David's sin with Bathsheba?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 51 Psalm 24 Psalm 23 Psalm 7