Christianity and Capital Punishment

. Give a brief overview of the Christian traditions’ attitude toward capital punishment?

Early Christians, especially during the first few centuries largely ___

opposed capital punishment.

Early Christians were influenced by ___

Jesus’ teachings on nonviolence (“turn the other cheek” in Matthew 5) and the sacredness of life

As Christianity became aligned with ___, especially after ___, attitudes shifted.

state power, Constantine

____ and ____ supported the use of capital punishment, arguing it could serve ____ and protect the _____ good

Augstine, Thomas Aquinas, justice, common good

During the _____, thinkers like _____ endorsed capital punishment for severe crimes

Reformation, John Calvin

In recent decades, especially in the ____, there has been a significant shift ____ the death penalty

Catholic Church, away from supporting

Pope ____ and Pope ___ both argue that the dignity of the human person, even the guilty, should lead Christians to oppose capital punishment.

John Paul II and Francis

mainline ____ and Catholic leaders have called for the abolition of the death penalty

Protestant W

What do modern Christian denominations urge in the dismantling of the death penalty?

Mercy, redemption, and the risk of wrongful execution