Replies

"BTW Catholics are against the death penalty"

"This is not an opinion that is binding on Catholics, as opposed to being against abortion, which is binding."

Well, c'mon folks ... which is it ?

Do we get to kill murderers or not, or does God say just " whatever you feel like " ?

You two seem like people who seem to know the rules ...

The Catholic Church came out against the death penalty approximately 15 years ago...I'm not sure if the teaching was issued under the auspices of the Pope's infallibility powers or not...I do know that abortion is considered sinful because it is murder as a human child is believed to have a soul at the moment of conception (part of the reason that the Church is against birth control is because all methods of birth control [except barrier methods] cause spontaneous abortions).

Abortion is a procedure which the person themselves must sanction on an individual level so I can choose to have or not have an abortion. I lack the personal power to stop government-authorized executions so being in favor of or opposing the death penalty does little to encourage or prevent them. The personal choice factor is absent. I would assume that the Church would not look happily upon the man who drops the cyanide into the bucket or kicks the trap door catch.

In terms of voting for a candidate it's hard to find a pro-life candidate who is opposed to the death penalty. I get the innocent life versus guilty life argument but I, personally, am a bit of a libertarian--I don't want the government to have the power to execute citizens--no parole and a life behind bars does it for me. In a just world the family of the killer's victims should get to decide what they think will bring them comfort after much prayer and reflection IMHO.