The Death Penalty: What Do You Say?

I grew up – and continue to consider myself – a social and political conservative. Many would label me as a right-wing Republican conservative. I have always advocated personal responsibility over government-mandated programs. I have always advocated charity, but I prefer charity of the individual as opposed to forced-charity.

It is not hard to believe, then, that I grew up a defender of the individual’s right to bear arms and a proponent of "natural consequences." Most striking of these was the belief that heinous acts of murder, rape, abuse, etc. should be punishable by the death penalty. I took comfort in Lev 24:17, where Yahweh says, ""Anyone who strikes down any other human being will be put to death." Leviticus is filled with a list of crimes punishable by death, although even in the past I did not support use of the death penalty in today’s society for all those crimes listed in Leviticus.
Jesus addresses many of the laws of the Old Testament when he states that He came not to nullify the law but to fulfill it. When questioned about the punishment for adultery, He forgives the adulteress her sins and sets her on her way with, "Sin no more." When confronted with the question of divorce, Jesus stated that the Mosaic law was given to Israel in light of the stubbornness. Jesus states that a man who puts aside his wife and marries another commits adultery!

I remember in an episode of Star Trek: the Original Series when Spock asks the "Guardian of Forever" if it is "being" or "machine." The Guardian responds, "I am both, and neither. I am my own beginning and my own end." Spock laments that he sees no reason why an answer should be couched in riddles, to which the Guardian responds, "I answer in a manner most suited to your limited intelligence."

Jesus’ statement, I take, is essentially saying that the Mosaic Israelites were incapable of hearing/understanding what Jesus was preaching – love of neighbors, love of persecutors, forgiveness of those who do us wrong. Can you blame the Mosaic Israelites? They had just been liberated from generations of bondage, brutality and persecution under the Egyptians.
Paraphrasing some of what Jesus said throughout the Gospels, "Love your neighbors. Bless those who persecute you. Forgive your brother not seven times, not seventy times – but seven time seventy times." Jesus states that a man who puts aside his wife and marries another commits adultery! He similarly puts a new spin on Mosaic law by saying, "Love.… Bless…. Forgive…."

Recent reading of The Catholic Catechism coupled with a deeper reading of the Gospels and my life-long advocacy of "The Right to Life" have led me to a very severe reappraisal of my feelings on the death penalty. I no longer can support the use of capital punishment by the State. While I must abide by the law of the State, I cannot in good conscience support the use of capital punishment. I came to this conclusion based upon a deeper inspection into the sanctity of life. While it does not mitigate the brutal acts which warrant a penalty of death, I have come to realize that all life is a gift from God. From conception to natural death, God is the "author of life." His "copyright" must not be infringed. By unjustifiably taking a life, we ascribe to the "author of death" – Satan (sin).

I believe that the taking of another human life is justifiable only in active defense of one’s own life (or the lives of others). The taking of life in a war can be justified – but not all wars are justified. But if the war is not "just," one must be willing to abide by the laws of the State should one "conscientiously" object to serving during a time of war. Should someone be coming at you with a knife intent on killing you or others then the taking of that life to protect one’s own (or those of others) can be justified if no other means of protection are available.
A different set of circumstances must be applied to those who commit heinous acts and have been apprehended and separated from society. If -- and this is a big ‘if’ -- it is possible to assure that they remain separated from society without the ability to commit further acts of violence, then all reasonable avenues should be exhausted in this effort. Life in prison without the possibility of parole is humane and justifiable. I don’t particularly relish the thought of financially supporting these felons through their lifetimes, but it is the morally right thing to do.

I’ll briefly touch on a few related issues. Abortion is murder, plain and simple. Conception creates a life, unique and valuable. Regardless of the circumstances of conception, that living being has been created in the image of God. It is not anyone’s place to regard it as not worthy of life. In cases where the mother’s life conflicts with that of the developing child, I believe self-preservation can be the only mitigating factor in abortion. I am not insensitive to arguments for abortion in cases of incest, rape, etc., but I must, in conclusion, side with the life of the unborn child.

Euthanasia is murder. Suicide is murder. Mitigating circumstances in both cases, including mental disorder, can and do justifiably exist.

Might I ever kill someone unjustifiably or advocate the use of the death penalty, especially if the acts of violence have touched me personally? Support the abortion of an unwanted/ill-timed pregnancy? Euthanize a loved one who is in prolonged pain as the result of a terminal illness? Euthanize myself under similar circumstances? Only God knows what I will do. I pray to God for the strength to resist such temptations when and if the time arises to face them.

And what of the people who do kill unjustifiably? Those who rape? Abuse? Those who abort their children? Those who euthanize? Those who attempt – or succeed in – suicide? I say, pray for them! Assure them of God’s wish for their petition for forgiveness. Forgive them (without needing to release them from the natural consequences of their actions). Catholics believe that although our sins are forgiven in Reconciliation we must still expect to face the consequences of our sins – either in this life or in the next. But "Purgatory" is another subject, for another week.

Respectfully submitted,

Dan

Welcome to Catholicism: The Facts

This blog has been created to facilitate the polite discussion of the Roman Catholic faith -- both for Roman Catholics and for those who think they know what Roman Catholics believe and why. I ask that you keep some simple ground rules in effect as you post comments here.

1. Civility is job one.
2. State what you believe.
3. Don't tell others what they believe.
4. Please punctuate your entries. I ask you to capitalize all references to God, including pronouns referring to Him.
   

Before you post, start with these basic facts about what I believe --

• I (and I don't pretend to speak for all Catholics) believe that all God's people have the opportunity for Salvation. I believe non-Christians can obtain Salvation, as well. Salvation is a gift from God -- and no one is worthy of that gift. Since it is a gift, I try not to dictate to God with regards to whom He can and cannot give His gift. Christ came for all mankind.
• Catholics do not worship saints (or the Blessed Virgin Mary [BVM]). We worship only God. We honor and revere the saints and the BVM. They are living examples of how we might imitate Christ more perfectly.
• Catholics do not pray to statues. We pray to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The statues allow us to focus ouir prayer and thoughts. Just as song helps others focus their praise of God, the visual image of the saints help us focus our prayer.
• Catholics do pray to saints (including the BVM) to ask for their intercession in behalf of our petitions. This means we ask them to add their prayers to ours in our behalf. Yes, there is one mediator between God and man, and that mediator is Jesus Christ. But we believe praying that the saints intercede for us is no different than asking a neighbor to pray for us when we experience troubling times.
• Catholics believe that in the holy sacrifice of the Catholic Mass that we receive Jesus' real (yet mystical) Body and His real (yet mystical) Blood. Catholics are not cannibals. Jesus, Himself, stated that His flesh was real food and His blood real drink.
• I will not argue Scripture verse for verse. Scripture can be translated and analyzed to the user's advantage. I rarely quote Scriture verse for verse and when I do I reference it properly and place it in context.
• I use the Catholic Bible for reference. I don't make judgments about other versions -- I simply use the Catholic Bible.
• When in doubt I defer to Mark 12:29-31, which I paraphrase as "The greatest commandment(s): The first is this; the Lord our God is the one, only Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this; you must love your neighbour as yourself."
• The Pope (Peter's successor) is the Head of Christ's Church on Earth only. Christ is the Head of the Church and the BVM its mother.
• The Pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals only, and then only when speaking ex cathedra; that is, from the Chair of Peter. The Pope can sin. So can we.

Welcome! May God bless us all!