Europeans outraged at Williams execution [Tookie Stadium]

MSNBC ^ | 12/13/05 | AP

[minus_273]

VIENNA, Austria - California's execution of Stanley Tookie Williams on Tuesday outraged many in Europe who regard the practice as barbaric, and politicians in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's native Austria called for his name to be removed from a sports stadium in his hometown.

At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI's top official for justice matters denounced the death penalty for going against redemption and human dignity.

"We know the death penalty doesn't resolve anything," Cardinal Renato Martino told AP Television News. "Even a criminal is worthy of respect because he is a human being. The death penalty is a negation of human dignity."

[pabianice]

Strange... Europeans haven't said a word about the four people he slaughtered... must be some of that European "sophistication" we dumb Cowboys just don't understand...

[Lucky Lyn]

"We know the death penalty doesn't resolve anything," Cardinal Renato Martino told AP Television News


It is 100% effective! Tookie Williams will never murder
again!

[Tax-chick]

Now that's good news!

[bubman]

You know I can understand the church's position on this issue but at leat they put their money where their mouth is. They also believe abortion is a crime and thus are againt it as well.

[vimto]

Well, Europe, what're ya gonna DO about it? Huh? Huh? ....

Listen, we will say nasty words to you. We will be horrible to you. We will make rude noises and silly faces - you , you, you.... you won't get away with this! Now we're really mad! You're for it now..... grrrrr.... Grrr...Kyoto! there now I've said it what you gonna do? Huh? Huh?

(and yes it is British sarcasm at it's bets / worst, if you're wondering)

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

This from a mange infected passel of ex Nazis, YAWN.

[CzarNicky]

We should call it an assisted suicide then they will love it.

[No Blue States]

"Europeans outraged"

LOL!

They are such drama queens.

PS: So what.

[karnage]

Do you consider Cardinal Martino an idiot?

[karnage]

They're working on it. Takes time and perseverence. Lots of evil has infiltrated the Church, and it's hard to root it all out. But it is happening.

[Grey Conservative]

Wow. You hit the nail on the head with this one. Being half British with relatives that still live there, I can tell you that this pretty much hits the mark; no real rational thought, just raw/petty jealousy.

[Ben Mugged]

What they should do is get their own country and make their own rules.

[rightwinggoth]

LOL!

[AmishDude]

Some of the first countries to abolish capital punishment included Venezuela (1863), San Marino (1865), and Costa Rica (1877). Today, over half the countries in the world have abolished the death penalty either by law or through practice. (Click to see map) Since 2000, Chile, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey have joined the list of abolitionist countries. Most executions occur in a handful of countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States. In Great Britain, it was abolished (except for cases of treason) in 1971; France abolished it in 1981. Canada abolished it in 1976. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed in a formal resolution that throughout the world, it is desirable to "progressively restrict the number of offenses for which the death penalty might be imposed, with a view to the desirability of abolishing this punishment".

On the other hand, Time magazine has reported that public opinion polls in Europe show significant support for the death penalty; in some countries it is even favored by a majority.

The fact is, it is an extremely recent and elitist view imposed by elites. In the US, it was banned by SCOTUS unilaterally (before most of the enlightened Europeans, BTW). Elites don't have to worry about the consequences of crime. I wonder quite how dangerous the riots in France would have been if the rioters knew that any resulting deaths would be death penalty offenses.

In addition, the UK has huge problems with suicides in prison. I guess the death penalty is OK as long as they don't have the right to appeal it.

[SamuraiScot]

Doesn't the bible condone the death penalty? If so, why is the church so morally sure of it's position?

You wouldn't know it reading the mainstream media, but the Church does not condemn the death penalty, and never has. Even the new catechism merely says it OUGHT to be unnecessary with modern security methods, but that it is, and will always be, the right of the state to execute criminals to protect its citizens.

It's hard for non-Catholics to understand, but the Vatican is not a top-down corporation. Any Cardinal or official is pretty much free to speak his mind on political matters (as opposed to matters of faith). Just because a Vatican official says something to a reporter doesn't make it the Catholic position.

Cardinal Martino is good when speaking against abortion and the UN crazies trying to enforce it world-wide. He knows nothing about war or jurisprudence. Therefore, the MSM loves to quote him on those last two subjects, rather than consulting any of the many sharper knives you can find in the Vatican drawer.

[higgmeister]

Felonious death is negation of human dignity!

[RogueIsland]

As a native of Scotland, I was astonished and disheartened to see the UN report indicating that Scotland is now the most violent country in the world. When I was a boy, in the 50s and 60s, it was safe to walk down literally any street in the country at any time of the day or night.

That must be just a heartbreaking thing to watch happen to one's homeland in so short a span of decades.

[eleni121]

So is child molestation and covering it up, Cardinal. Pull the plank out of your own organization's eye before you criticize the dust in ours.

---

Excellent! Talk about stones and glass houses...

[add925]

WGAF?

Let Euroweenies warm and feed their murderers...we'll be more environmentally friendly to planet.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said the city would keep Williams in its memory the next time it celebrates a victory against the death penalty somewhere in the world.

Maybe they should be more focused on that genocide in Darfur.