Posted on 03/21/2015 1:06:05 AM PDT by Arthur McGowan
This is why I use the word “attempted” in describing the pope’s desire to eradicate capital punishment: because he lacks the authority to make such a change. Shocking, I know, but I said it before and I’ll repeat it again: the teaching on this matter is settled. In order to advance this position, Pope Francis would have to declare several of his predecessors as well as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Thomas More (who prosecuted heretics in an England where that was a capital offense), a papal decree, an apostolic constitution, and also St. Paul’s own divinely-inspired writing in the New Testament to be in error.
(Excerpt) Read more at onepeterfive.com ...
While I may or night not agree...
What is the cost of keeping alive these convicted murderers?
What is the jail space required to conform to these actions?
What is the benefit to society of keeping these felons alive?
What is the benefit of removing these felons from society?
How certain is it that we can keep these folks away from society?
How much of this is based on emotion rather than safety?
Another step in the self-destruction of the Catholic Church, begun by Vatican II. Having destroyed the sanctity of the Holy Mass, the heretics in charge now move on to overturning basic tenets of the Faith. This is the social justice garbage spewed out by religious as well as political and social characters.
We are all sinners and must answer for them. However, I would not want to be one of those in charge (and should know better) and answer for their sins.
I'm actually opposed to the death penalty myself. This is not because I have a problem with executing criminals ... but that I live in a country where the government doesn't even have the moral authority to put people in jail, let alone execute them.
Of course, if it is murder to kill them, then all of those questions are moot.
But it is not murder to kill them.
The Church can destroy itself in one place or another, but not globally.
A single Pope cannot destroy the Church. He can only cause confusion and division, and perhaps cause the Church to die in certain places.
Steve SKOJEC.
I always end up looking the other way. My brain tells me that most of these offenders are evil and must be eliminated from society. It's a mix of safety for society and vengeance for the victims. Then I always get myself stuck in the pickle by asking... Do they deserve to die enough where I would actually pull the trigger myself. I know I couldn't do it and ever sleep a wink again... and that makes me a hypocrite, something I despise more than just about anything else.
There are lots of “respectable” jobs most people couldn’t do in a million years. I can’t bear to think of cutting into another human being, even to remove a tumor.
I think execution should be quick and painless. I don’t understand why anaesthesia BEFORE electrocution or gassing has not always been mandatory.
Years ago, I read a statement by a parish priest whose church was right next door to a state prison. The priest was there for decades, and visited dozens and dozens of prisoners before execution. He said that not a single one of them failed to repent and make peace with God before execution. Who could say that about men who served life sentences?
Remember the video of Richard Speck that came out some years ago? He turned into an absolute freak of drugs and sex perversion. I can’t help wondering how he might have responded to the prospect of execution instead.
The DP is appropriate both as a punishment and a deterrent.
well, I have all of those internal arguments over the subject, the good and the bad (and the ugly). But it still always boils down to the fact that I’m asking someone else to do something that I couldn’t do myself. I’ve no problems hunting, gutting fish, none of that stuff ever bothered me in the least. But as evil as evil can be, I couldn’t kill another human if I had to think about it. Self-defense isn’t an issue for me, protecting my family isn’t an issue, I know what I have to do and I’ve already made the decision. But if you asked me to go throw the switch on a condemned man, I simply couldn’t do it as much as I know it’s right and just. If the guy killed one of my family, I guess I’d accept the eventuality of burning in hell and do it anyway... circumstances I guess. I just don’t like being a hypocrite, it bothers me.
To personify the death penalty is the height of selfishness. What you can or cannot do is not really germane.
It should be quite obvious that exterminating the human vermin will solve many many problems rising from the fact they are allowed to live
I don't live in denial. I'm as honest with myself as I am with anyone else... and although after reading your comment I don't feel any obligation to explain myself to someone like you, selfish is the last thing that I am.
I've already explained without focus that I generally don't disagree with any justification for capitol punishment, but I'm honest enough to say out loud that I couldn't do it myself. I have strong convictions and I stick to them. It's the same in life, work, you name it. I don't even ask my employees to do anything I wouldn't do myself and I see this no differently. If that is interpreted as "selfishness" to you, I'm not sure what to say.
Well=reasoned and well-written. Should be required reading for putz popes and his henchmen lackey moron bishops.
* sigh *
I don’t see why “asking someone else to do something I couldn’t do” is a stumbling block. There are hundreds of millions of people doing things every day that you wouldn’t or couldn’t do.
The question is: Are you asking (or COMPELLING) anyone to do something HE finds repellent or immoral? If not, pull the switch!
That is a strong argument if their statistics are right. I don't remember the date or the author of the article.
That is a strong argument if their statistics are right. I don't remember the date or the author of the article.
While I have often cited Romans 13, (aprox) ‘It is good to fear the sword of the state, for it has its purpose.’, I believe the Pope is looking at the issue world-wide, and not within the confines of U.S. application.
Globally, the death penalty is certainly abused.
That is true. Surely ISIS’s notion of the “death penalty” is not congruent with a civilized society’s.
And I’m sure JPII was also looking at the whole world, not the U.S.
But it should be possible to tell from the Popes’ own words what kinds of situations they are talking about.
Bergoglio’s statement is incompatible with the teaching of the Catholic Church.
“NEXT?!”
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