He's Roman Catholic, not Jewish. Roman Catholics believe in a New Testament that, IIANM, they believe is against capital punishment.
Catholics don't believe in the Old Testament? I didn't know that. The New Testament does not abolish the Old Testament.
Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
ALL the Roman Catholics I know believe in Capital Punishment.
The way some religious liberals speak, you can see them pleading with Jesus to spare the devil after Armegeddon (sp?).