The Implications of Not Using the Death Penalty

Last updated on: August 9, 2018 at 2:12 pm by Jennifer Fitz

The Implications of Not Using the Death Penalty 2018-08-09T14:12:25-05:00 Jennifer Fitz

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.

In all the excitement of every bishop in the world’s credibility imploding in one fell swoop, I haven’t gotten in on the death penalty conversation. I’m going to the leave the theology at this: I believe in the hermeneutic of continuity. We read the new in light of the old, and therefore a valid reading will take into count the compendium of centuries of thinking on this topic. Nothing to be afraid of here.

But of course the Catechism is meant to tell us how to live, and it has become quite emphatic on the bit about not putting criminals to death.

It already said you shouldn’t. Now it says, No, really, we mean that. Don’t put them to death. It’s bad for you and bad for them.

So what that means for Catholics is: Don’t put criminals to death.

Whoah!

Let’s think about what that means.

What if we can’t keep prisoners behind bars? Then the Catechism is saying you have a moral obligation to improve your methods of detention so that people are kept safe.

What if our prisons are the headquarters of vast networks of organized crime? Then the Catechism is saying you must change your policing and your prison system so that “justice” means less crime not more.

What if being in prison is a fate worse than death? Well, if your goal is revenge, I suppose you’ve got it. But I hazard the Catechism is saying that you must work for humane prison conditions, and perhaps alternate penalties for non-violent offenders.

What if my country is in a state of corruption, anarchy, and open warfare? The Catechism unequivocally allows for just warfare and legitimate self-defense. It also has all kinds of other bits that address the many, many problems that contribute to your slaughtering-innocent-civilians situation. And perhaps it’s saying: Please don’t hide behind the death penalty on this, because Heaven knows you’ve got enough people being killed already. How about you do all the other things, and then if you still need the death penalty, we can talk?

***

And maybe also the Church is saying that when a bishop asks for the Knights to investigate . . .

I urge the USA members of the College of Cardinals & the leadership of the USCCB to engage the Knights of Columbus as lay leaders in an effort of repentance & renewal for the USA College of Bishops. May these faithful lay men & their wives help to renew us Christ’s light.

— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) August 7, 2018

. . . they are counting on the Knights to stick to nice dull ceremonial swords.

Which is the half-right answer. A few sacrificial victims going to the scaffold does not bring real justice. The dignity of the human person calls for true repentance and reform.

File:Griffenfeld on the scaffold 1676.jpg

Artwork courtesy of Wikimedia, Public Domain

Previous Post

August 2, 2018

Fisking Cardinal DiNardo: USCCB Unclear on the Concept

Next Post

September 13, 2018 Why Yes, I'm Still Catholic

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Catechesis Catholic Q&A Chastity Church Craziness Come See Me Talk Disability & Chronic Illness Economics Evangelization Facepalm Forgiveness Good Things History Homeschooling Human Rights It's All Catholic Listen to Me Survey Series Liturgical Living Marriage Modesty Not Satire. But almost. Rant-o-Rama Sacred Art & Music Satire South Carolina Spark Clutter Stick that Corner Suffering Thinking Topics Writing Stuff

Select a Month September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 January 2026 December 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 November 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 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 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who threw Daniel into the lion’s den?

Select your answer to see how you score.

King Darius Pharaoh King Nebuchadnezzar King Saul