And now, a re-enactment of Saddam's last words, courtesy of Bill the Cat.
Posted on 01/02/2007 8:26:01 AM PST by MadIvan
The Iraqi regime's decision to hang Saddam Hussein was defended by a Church of England bishop yesterday.
The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, said that anyone who deliberately murdered another human being "immediately forfeited his or her right to life".
The bishop said that there were good reasons to oppose the death penalty but Saddam's execution could not be criticised as unjust because he had been afforded a fair trial and an opportunity to appeal.
It would "be wrong to encourage Iraqi democracy on the one hand and to interfere with their government and legal system on the other", he said. "If the international community is satisfied that due process has been observed we should hold our peace and pray that order will emerge out of chaos for Iraq and for the Middle East so that, in more stable times, they will be able to have their own discussion about the rights and wrongs of the death penalty."
Bishop Gledhill's remarks contrasted with those of colleagues and other Church leaders. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, said at the weekend: "It was most unpleasant to see this on television, even with the knowledge of what Saddam had done to others.
"Maybe it will raise in the public mind how offensive and morally unacceptable this form of justice is. The element of forgiveness central to Christianity is lost in execution." The Rt Rev John Packer, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, said: "Humiliating a human being in this way can only lead to increased disrespect and increased violence. The photographs of the execution seemed inappropriate."
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme last week that Saddam deserved "sharp and unequivocal" punishment.
But he continued: "I would say of him what I have to say about anyone who has committed even the most appalling crimes in this country; that I believe the death penalty effectively says there is no room for change or repentance."
The Vatican also denounced the execution and said it was unlikely to help efforts to reconcile Iraqi society.
Pope Benedict XVI said in his public first address of 2007 that peace depended on respecting human rights, and there could be no excuse for treating people as "objects".
Regards, Ivan
Bishop Jonathan Gledhill BUMP! (Thanks for posting, Ivan...Healthy & Happy New Year to you.)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Agreed. The willingness of a society to render capital punishment for murder is a direct reflection on that society's view of the sanctity of life. Anything less than the ultimate punishment for the deliberate and unprovoked taking of another person's life is an insult to the victim. I also like the Bishop's train of thought...If we agree that the potential victim could have legitimately used deadly force to protect himself, we have conceded that the perpetrator has already surrendered his right to live.
And now, a re-enactment of Saddam's last words, courtesy of Bill the Cat.
Apparently the Gods feel the same way, as they are sending people to hell for eternity for what us mere mortals would consider lesser crimes. - tom
Most eloquent.
Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.
You simply do forfeit your life when you murder someone, especially murderous tyrants like Saddam. And what is with the comment from the Vatican in describing Saddam's death a "tragedy"?
Then perhaps the good doctor would be so kind as to explain the thief on the Cross. He repented and Jesus forgave him his sins. (And on a side note, The Lord had the prefect opportunity to speak out against the death penalty, if He were opposed to it. The thief claimed that he and the other thief "deserved" their punishment. Surely Jesus would have corrected him had he been in error. Instead, God Incarnate said nothing remotely like the words we heard from these "learned" men.)
Murder isn't the ultimate evil; damnation is. Jesus said so, flatly: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -- Mt 10:28.
Now that is funny.
That's right; the crux of the secularist argument against the death penalty is that an untimely death is the worst thing that can happen to a person. Those of us who believe in the hereafter believe that the loss of heaven and the pains of hell are the worst that one can experience.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -- Mt 10:28.
So Saddam had nothing to fear from his executioners! I like this quote from St. Paul:
It is not without purpose that [the ruler] carries the sword. He is God’s servant, to inflict his avenging wrath upon the wrongdoer - Romans 13:4.
I love the Church, but I think her leaders here on earth are wrong on this one.
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