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