Catholics change their mind about the death penalty

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Catholics change their mind about the death penalty

5 yrs ago

Describing the death penalty as an affront to a convicted criminal’s dignity, Pope Francis has withdrawn the Catholic Church’s support for capital punishment, AP reported.

In a new directive this week, the Pope said the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty had been changed because “it is always inadmissible” as it “attacks” the inherent dignity of all humans.

Previously, the catechism said the church didn't exclude recourse to capital punishment “if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor”.

But it now contends the previous policy was out-dated and that there were other ways to protect the common good.

The Pope has long strongly opposed the death penalty as a punishment for even the most heinous crimes.

In a statement, the Vatican said: “The church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”

The death penalty has been abolished in most of Europe and South America, but it is still in use in the United States and in several countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

This week Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said his government could soon move to reinstate the death penalty, which it had abolished in 2004 as part of its bid to join the European Union.

Do you agree with the Catholic Church’s new ruling on capital punishment? Do you believe that for the most terrible of crimes, the death penalty should still be applied? If not, what do you think would be an appropriate punishment?

7 comments

Suze

5 yrs ago

The world is overpopulated .... if it was to get rid off few bad apples it would be a good thing.

We need return of the Death Penalty ..... an eye for an eye.

...and a tooth for a tooth

Image result for smiley with missing teeth LOL

Hey mate, I understand the eye for eye and tooth for tooth, but what happens if someone slaps you on the cheek?

Judicially speaking old bean, it would depend on which “cheek”you’re talking about. If you’re referring to the cheek in your lower regions, that might be interpreted as a pat on the backside.If however the facial cheek is in question, then that would be assault and battery. Hope this answers your question old man!

Banjo

5 yrs ago

Thanks for the laugh lads, on this otherwise morbid topic.

darcy

5 yrs ago

I can't quite bring myself to 100% approve of the death penalty, but on the other hand, there are a number of people currently incarcerated who don't deserve their three meals a day .

But also there's always the danger of an innocent person being put to death. The Innocence Project has been successful in obtaining freedom for many who have been in prison for years.

Some have been on death row.

PlanB

5 yrs ago

I am for the death penalty if there is NO doubt and it has been a murder or torture or child abuse -- there is a LOT in prison that do not need to be fed and kept -- and they have done horrific things --

As much as I would like to get rid of some of the vermin that exists, I can understand what the church is saying. You can't preach 'thou shalt not kill' and you then go out and kill someone yourself.

PlanB

5 yrs ago

You can't preach what they preach about anything and go ahead and do it anyway -- I am sure there is nowhere in the Bible that approves of child molestation either

Banjo

5 yrs ago

I don’t think the death penalty will ever be reintroduced into Australia. In my opinion a good thing, since there are no grey areas with the death penalty. It’s the most final punishment a nation can serve and there have been cases where people have been executed and then later found to be innocent. What if that person was a relative, a friend or even oneself? Besides, there is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty is effective as a deterrent.

PlanB

5 yrs ago

What if the person was SEEN to be doing the crime and there was NO doubt at all Banjo

Banjo

5 yrs ago

There is no such thing as "no doubt at all".

There is always room for doubt. Show 10 people the same thing and they will all give different reports of what they saw, e.g. the Rashomon Effect.

Even though several people may have witnessed an event they can all give contradictory interpretations. Even if there is only one person, can we trust the psyche of that person? People interpret incidents based on their own perceptions. Doesn't mean they are lying, they see what they see but that doesn't mean it's true.

PlanB

5 yrs ago

You are right Banjo -- sorry I was wrong, it IS impossible to be sure of what you see and it has been proved -- I just hate the thought of so many scum being fed and housed free to them

Banjo

5 yrs ago

You're not wrong for feeling outrage PlanB. Most of us feel the same.

Adrianus

5 yrs ago

Have you heard the story of the "Hurricane" Rubin Carter?

As Bob Dylan said, he coulda been champion of the world.

Adrianus

5 yrs ago

Is it possible the Vatican wants to have a point of difference with other religions?

I believe in the death penalty where there is incontrovertible proof. Failing that, just put the paedophiles in the normal prison system and let nature take its course.

7 comments

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Catholics change their mind about the death penalty

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