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In recent decades, certain Catholic persons, even ones in important leadership positions, have vigorously opposed it. But not all modern-day Catholics do so –

In recent decades, certain Catholic persons, even ones in important leadership positions, have vigorously opposed it. But not all modern-day Catholics do so – as a Catholic, I do not. Here is what Pope Pius XII had to say in the middle of the 20th Century: "Even when it is a question of the execution of a condemned man, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life. In this case it is reserved to the public power to deprive the condemned person of the enjoyment of life in expiation of his crime when, by his crime, he has already disposed himself of his right to live." – Address to the First International Congress of Histopathology of the Nervous System (14 Sep 1952)[1] See also Fr. George Rutler's article in Crisis Magazine, Hanging Concentrates the Mind (8 Feb 2013)[2], and Avery Cardinal Dulles' essay in First Things, Catholicism & Capital Punishment (Apr 2001)[3]. In short, there is more to the "Catholic view" than Evangelium Vitae[4], the 1997 Catechism[5], recent statements by Pope Francis[6], and statements by other Catholic writers and leaders repeating or expanding upon the same ideas[7] (all due respect being given to their persons and offices). The modern Catholic position, if you will, on the death penalty is something of an anomaly against the backdrop of what previous Councils, Popes, Doctors and Fathers of the Church have taught. As a matter of intellectual honesty, at least, I think it's important that Catholics "play with a full deck" when treating this difficult subject. Having dug into the matter, I concluded that the modern position is not sound, and so have adopted the Church's traditional view on the death penalty. [1] https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P12PSYCH.HTM https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P12PSYCH.HTM [2] http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/hanging-concentrates-the-mind http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/hanging-concentrates-the-... [3] http://www.firstthings.com/article/2001/04/catholicism-amp-capital-punishment http://www.firstthings.com/article/2001/04/catholicism-amp-c... [4] http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae.html http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/doc... [5] http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm#2267 http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm#2267 [6] http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/03/pope-francis-death-penalty-is.html http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/03/pope-francis-death-pe... [7] One example, there are many more: http://www.macatholic.org/sites/macatholic.org/files/assets/Statement%20on%20the%20Death%20Penalty%204.7.2015.pdf%20FINAL.pdf http://www.macatholic.org/sites/macatholic.org/files/assets/...

tptacek 11y ago
Pius XII's view was more or less rebutted by the USCCB statement in 1980, which held: * (Deterrence/Protection) The modern state is more than powerful enough to prevent criminals from murdering people without killing them, absolving the state of the duty to kill in order to protect. * (Restoration) Execution can't have any restorative value, because it's hard to restore any part of the spirit of a dead person. * (Retribution) Retribution is a valid goal for punishment, but even for murderers, execution exceeds the justification of retribution and contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ. Everything the church has said since the National Council voted to oppose capital punishment seems to be in line with that statement, through four (very) different popes. I'm not not Catholic and, like I think most people in my parish, I believe all sorts of things the church formally doesn't accept --- parity between same- and different- sex marriages, the right of women to freely make reproductive health choices, fundamental and universal equality between men & women --- and, similarly, you're free to oppose the church's teachings on capital punishment.
- michaelsbradley 11y ago
  I completely agree that bishops, including recent popes, and Catholic figures of lesser authority as well, have made statements that stand in contrast to, or even contradict to varying degrees, what has been taught previously regarding the death penalty. It is part of a larger plight of confusion rife in the modern-day Church. One of the wonders of the Internet is that it's not difficult to access even centuries old sources and compilations of Catholic teaching, and more recent ones as well. Sometimes a paper book is still quite helpful, e.g. the Enchiridion Symbolorum[†]. As a Catholic, I accept everything the Church teaches regarding human sexuality, artificial contraception, the priesthood, etc. More than that, I try to study those teachings and allow them to shape my understanding of God, the world and my fellow human beings. I think it's lamentable when that teaching is distorted, hobbled, or even disregarded and contradicted by those whose very mission it is to transmit it across space and time. Rather than get upset by such events, I see them as a call to action! The Catholic hierarchy, according to the Church's own understanding, is not the ultimate origin of teachings on faith and morals. Their "job" is to hand on and clarify what they've received. They can, for a season or two, fail (even spectacularly) to do so. The ship always gets righted after a time, but not without the prayers and efforts of those who recognize the problem. Feel free to contact me if you would like to continue the discussion in a different venue. [†] http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DENZ-H/enchiridion-symbolorum.aspx http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DENZ-H/enchiridion-symbolor...

tptacek 11y ago

Pius XII's view was more or less rebutted by the USCCB statement in 1980, which held: * (Deterrence/Protection) The modern state is more than powerful enough to prevent criminals from murdering people without killing them, absolving the state of the duty to kill in order to protect. * (Restoration) Execution can't have any restorative value, because it's hard to restore any part of the spirit of a dead person. * (Retribution) Retribution is a valid goal for punishment, but even for murderers, execution exceeds the justification of retribution and contradicts the teachings of Jesus Christ. Everything the church has said since the National Council voted to oppose capital punishment seems to be in line with that statement, through four (very) different popes. I'm not not Catholic and, like I think most people in my parish, I believe all sorts of things the church formally doesn't accept --- parity between same- and different- sex marriages, the right of women to freely make reproductive health choices, fundamental and universal equality between men & women --- and, similarly, you're free to oppose the church's teachings on capital punishment.

michaelsbradley 11y ago
I completely agree that bishops, including recent popes, and Catholic figures of lesser authority as well, have made statements that stand in contrast to, or even contradict to varying degrees, what has been taught previously regarding the death penalty. It is part of a larger plight of confusion rife in the modern-day Church. One of the wonders of the Internet is that it's not difficult to access even centuries old sources and compilations of Catholic teaching, and more recent ones as well. Sometimes a paper book is still quite helpful, e.g. the Enchiridion Symbolorum[†]. As a Catholic, I accept everything the Church teaches regarding human sexuality, artificial contraception, the priesthood, etc. More than that, I try to study those teachings and allow them to shape my understanding of God, the world and my fellow human beings. I think it's lamentable when that teaching is distorted, hobbled, or even disregarded and contradicted by those whose very mission it is to transmit it across space and time. Rather than get upset by such events, I see them as a call to action! The Catholic hierarchy, according to the Church's own understanding, is not the ultimate origin of teachings on faith and morals. Their "job" is to hand on and clarify what they've received. They can, for a season or two, fail (even spectacularly) to do so. The ship always gets righted after a time, but not without the prayers and efforts of those who recognize the problem. Feel free to contact me if you would like to continue the discussion in a different venue. [†] http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DENZ-H/enchiridion-symbolorum.aspx http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DENZ-H/enchiridion-symbolor...