If you read between the lines of the NYT article, you will see that the lib parishioners who were so sure of their righteousness when the murders happened to other people in other communities are now questioning their reflexive anti-death penalty advocacy now that one of their own was affected by a heinous crime. Nothing like feeling the pain on your own skin to clarify matters.
I think that in brutal crimes like this one, where you have personal knowledge of the victims, it SHOULD shake the foundations of your beliefs.
Personally, I am glad the congregation is in turmoil, and rethinking its stance.........maybe they will act accordingly with their votes.
It is tough for some to reconcile the core Christian tenents of mercy,forgiveness and love, with what is a natural gut reaction to brutality and murder. IMO the struggle to reconcile these two opposing positions, is what makes us civilized.....it should never be a simple thing to take another humans life...no matter how vile and despicable that person is, or deserving.
Studying and reaching an understanding of the scriptures which in fact supports the death penalty is the only way for the Christian person to be at peace.