Catholic Teaching on Death Penalty

What’s the Church’s Starting Point?

What’s the Church’s starting Point?

• The heart of our religion lies in Jesus’ death at the hands of executioners; He is an unjust victim of a legitimate, state-sanctioned execution

• Also, we have continual reminders throughout Scripture that vengeance belongs specifically to God alone

• Finally, Jesus’ words just before his execution about living and dying by the sword hint at the death penalty continuing the cycle of violence

When is the Death Penalty necessary?

• “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.” (CCC 2267)

• This exception was for more necessary before the coming of the modern prison system when keeping criminals behind bars was much more difficult

• Nowadays, this exception is almost never a reality due to most nations’ ability to lock-up criminals for any amount of time necessary

Why End the Death Penalty?

• A dead criminal cannot reformed and rehabilitation IS POSSIBLE, even for the most hardened of criminals; death penalty is a hopeless act

• Innocent people have been and will continue to fall victim to the death penalty; since 1973 at least 100 people have been found innocent of their crime while on death row and released

• It fails to deter people from committing violent crimes

• The death penalty is racially/economically skewed

Four Concrete Benefits of Ending Death Penalty

1. It would tell society that we can end the cycle of violence; forgiveness and reform is possible

2. It would reinforce the notion that ALL people have dignity no matter what they have done

3. It reinforces the notion that God is the Lord and Master of life

4. Outlawing the death penalty is much more in tune with Jesus’ call to unlimited forgiveness; conforming our whole society to Christ’s image is the goal of Christians!