Pope Francis changes Catholic Church teaching to say death penalty is ‘inadmissible’

Washington Post ^ | August 2, 2018 | Chico Harlan

[ebb tide]

ROME — Pope Francis has changed Catholic Church teaching to fully reject the death penalty, the Vatican announced Thursday, saying it would work to abolish capital punishment worldwide.

The change addresses several sentences of the catechism, the compendium of Catholic teaching, but it sharply amplifies the church’s opposition against one of the world’s most debated policies.

The church’s updated teaching states that capital punishment is “inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” Previously, the church allowed for the death penalty in very rare cases, only as a means of “defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.”

[ebb tide]

New revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the death penalty – Rescriptum “ex Audentia SS.mi”, 02.08.2018

How this suit you?

[Bulwyf]

Roman Catholic Church isn’t too concerned with what the Bible says. If they did, there wouldn’t be a Roman Catholic Church.

[Bulwyf]

Roman Catholic Church isn’t too concerned with what the Bible says. If they did, there wouldn’t be a Roman Catholic Church.

[Tunehead54]

Lapsed Catholic here. Can’t you take the last pope back? ;-)

You: “I must agree that where a no-lethal just penalty is possible, the death sentence should be set aside, and life-imprisonment-without-possibilty-of-parole should be preferred.”

Aside from other problems any number of convicts, certain of no death penalty, have killed other inmates, guards, medical personnel, etc. (all victims with family of some sort?) Probably they had their TV privileges cut back for a while ...

If you were aware of the horrific details of various murders over time immemorial I think you might come around to my point of view which is G-d or no G-d this animal has forfeited his/her right to life.

Regarding a “just” penalty”, I’m actually borderline in removing removing the cruel and unusual clause of our Constitution to allow the death penalty to be enforced in a manner similar to the death of their victim(s) - on TV - for guaranteed purpose of deterrence - certain for the guilty and a warning for others. IMHO.

Slightly depressed: Molly Tibbets press conference in delay in progress) ... I have two beautiful daughters (20+ yo) - who, just going about their day, are potential targets for any number of depraved minds legally or illegally in country, twisted by their religion, sexual dementia, or whatever reason simply because they are female.

Point: If there is no reasonable doubt as to their guilt - take them out. /rant

[Lurker]

When did a pope get the authority to rewrite the Bible?

L

[redleghunter]

Don’t they need to do all of this through “encyclicals” (or whaatever documents are applicable) still? I’m not positive a Pope can change a lot of things with the stroke of a pen.

This would be considered a 'moral teaching' which the Pope can adjust but most refrain from doing so without conferring with the bishops. Seeing how JPII revised the language to make the death penalty as a last resort in the most extreme cases 'and even then' to find other options, this Pope just made a declaration and an official CHANGE.

[redleghunter]

Then there's the commitment to life. It's a crazy world. Those who support the slaughter of the preborn don't think a serial killer should be put to death. Huh? An innocent pre-separation infant has no right to life, but those who've slaughtered people do?

Good point.

[redleghunter]

>>The question I do have is, can this Pope make any changes?<<

He just did make a change. A test balloon to see how much push back he gets. If he gets little from the bishops, then he will just ‘adjust’ divorce and same-sex unions.

[ealgeone]

Once again proving doctrinal development is at the heart of the RCC and they have very little to do with antiquity except for the costumes.

And even that has evolved over time.

[redleghunter]

https://youtu.be/QwR3AV-Rkxc

[redleghunter]

Not a mortal sin. Oh, St. Catherine of Siena disagrees with you! “Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him, but calmly lie down to rest on his bosom. He who rebels against our Father is condemned to death, for that which we do to him we do to Christ: we honor Christ if we honor the Pope; we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the Pope. I know very well that many defend themselves by boasting: “They are so corrupt, and work all manner of evil!” But God has commanded that, even if the priests, the pastors, and Christ-on-earth were incarnate devils, we be obedient and subject to them, not for their sakes, but for the sake of God, and out of obedience to Him.”

St. Catherine of Siena, SCS, p. 201-202, p. 222, (quoted in Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 5: “The Book of Obedience”, Chapter 1: “There is No Salvation Without Personal Submission to the Pope”) http://indefenceoftheholyfather.blogspot.com/2013/12/saint-catherine-of-sienna-even-if-pope.html

[Mom MD]

My thoughts exactly. If God is against the death penalty why did He pay it for us?

[redleghunter]

By the way, on the topic of "changing things," do I really need to remind you how many different understandings of soteriology there are in the Protestant camp? Whether or not the adherents of those different understandings think they can justify their position from Scripture, the fact remains that those positions have evolved considerably from what Calvin taught, which itself had evolved considerably from what Luther taught.

So....what are you saying here??? With Frank the First youse guys are just like Protestants now?

[redleghunter]

Amen!

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

If you put them in prison knowing a Democrat governor is going to let them out, what good is putting them in prison? If you know they are going to get out, where are they going to live? They will be living next door to someone. And you know it.

[Mr Rogers]

“Moses told you ‘an eye for an eye’, but I tell you do not be angry with your brother.”

And I tell you, there is a huge difference between how I should relate PERSONALLY to someone, and how GOVERNMENT should treat them!

If someone murdered my child, I should forgive them. Government should not. I am called to try to show Christ’s love. Government?

“For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.”

[RetiredArmy]

Once more this guy needs to open up his Bible and actually read it instead of making up something along the way. God gave the authority for capital punishment in the Old Testament, clearly!!! Hey pope dude, go read the Scriptures would you. What a flake. When are these people going to can this guy and get someone who will actually teach them the Gospel of Grace found in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4. You will find the Gospel there, clearly written by the apostle Paul. No purgatory. No buying people out of hell. Only through FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS for what HE DID on the Cross on a hill called Calvary. Try that out for once. JUST ONCE and you will find the TRUTH!!! You ain’t gonna get it from this guy. Good grief. Over 1 billion people following this fool.

[G Larry]

When’s the last time a Guv set a murderer free?

[Biggirl]

I rather OBEY God than man.

Sorry, no sale.

[ealgeone]

Roman Catholics don’t like it when you quote Roman Catholic sources against them.