[narses]

"The official Catholic church position is to be against abortion and the death penalty. "

Not true. The Church has ALWAYS supported the death penalty and ALWAYS opposed abortion. The current Pope has argued that the Death Penalty today may not be necessary, but that isn't the same as never allowable. It is also not a formal teaching, or dogma, of the Universal Church, whereas the ban on abortion is.

[nickcarraway]

Narses, I think you should say the Catholic Church has always held that the death penalty can be used legitimately by a government. Saying the Church always supported the death penalty isn't quite the way to put it. Sorry to nitpick.

[Tuco Ramirez]

Definitely true; the "seamless garment" was invented by America's "lavender mafia"...