“He differed from his church, significantly and openly, over capital punishment; 21 prisoners were executed by the state on his watch, the most under any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.”
This is wrong.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church allows that the State DOES HAVE AUTHORITY to impose capital punishment, although non-lethal means to prevent the murderer from a repeat offense are preferred.
“The Church’s unchangeable constant teaching is that punishments, including the death penalty, may be levied for four reasons:
1. Rehabilitation - The sentence of death can and sometimes does move the condemned person to repentance and conversion. The death penalty may be a way of achieving the criminal’s reconciliation with God.
2. Defense against the criminal - Capital punishment is an effective way of preventing the wrongdoer from committing future crimes and protecting society from him.
3. Deterrence - Executions may create a sense of horror that would prevent others from being tempted to commit similar crimes.
4. Retribution - Guilt calls for punishment. The graver the offense, the more severe the punishment ought to be. In Holy Scripture death is regarded as the appropriate punishment for serious transgressions. Thomas Aquinas held that sin calls for the deprivation of some good, such as, in serious cases, the good of temporal or even eternal life. The wrongdoer is placed in a position to expiate his evil deeds and escape punishment in the next life.”
(Dulles, Avery Cardinal. “Catholicism & Capital Punishment”)
Among pro-abortion politicians, and covertly pro-abortion Catholics, opposition to capital punishment serves to provide cover for pro-abortion politicians who want to claim that opposing capital punishment makes them “pro-life.” Mario Cuomo said, “The bishops are saying, ‘Pro-life’ doesn’t mean just abortion.” And he was right. That’s exactly what the Seamless Garment bishops were saying, and do say.
Bush’s position on capital punishment is NOT in conflict with the teaching of the Catholic Church.