Catholic response

• Catholic Church’s position on capital punishment has changed over time - initially followed teachings of St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas- believed death penalty deterred others from committing crime and way to protect innocent people.
• Since Second Vatican Council, Catholic Church been opposed to death penalty and on August 2, 2018, church adopted view that capital punishment = “inadmissible” as violates dignity of mankind.
• Pope John Paul II opposed for a consensus to end the dearth penalty on the ground that it was “both cruel and unnecessary.”
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that “in the light of the Gospel” the death penalty = “an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”
• Pope Francis proposed abolition of death penalty and life imprisonment (felt it was variation of death penalty) - (not justifiable) innocent people could die and reform isn’t possible.
• Believe life was given by God only he can take it away - argue one of the Ten Commandments forbids killing and refer to Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness and not seeking revenge.
• AGREE

  • Serious crimes deserve death penalty - “an eye for an eye” refer to Old Testament.
• AGREE

  • It serves as a deterrent to those who may consider committing serious crime.
• AGREE

  • It protects society from criminals who pose a serious threat
• AGREE

  • It vindicates the families of those who have suffered as a result of the criminal.
• DISAGREE

  • Punishment should be about reform not death - repentance = goal so that humans can turn back to God.
• DISAGREE

  • All humans are created imago dei = our duty to respect human life - justice means serving the appropriate sentence not just ending life.
• DISAGREE

  • There is no evidence to suggest its a deterrence - most crimes are crimes of passion.
• DISAGREE

  • Most religious leaders are totally opposed to capital punishment and see it as a barbaric act.