Capital Punishment

Capital punishment or the death penalty, is punishment that takes the life of the criminal. Some people think it is a good form of punishment because it deters people from murdering others and takes life for a life. Others disagree because evidence shows it does not deter, and innocent people can be killed for crimes they did not commit. The Catholic church position on capital punishment has developed over many years. Traditionally, the Catholic church has allowed, but not encouraged it.

The purpose of capital punishment is to restore balance in society by punishing those who have disrupted it. It also exists to protect society from the threat of crime and violence. Capital punishment also acts as an incentive to prevent people from committing crimes in the first place or from repeating them in the future. Capital punishment is only permissible when there is no other way of achieving the purposes of protecting society.

Pope John Paul II said that it is only justified when no other means of protecting society from criminals exists.

Arguments FOR Capital Punishment (death penalty)

Quotes:

‘He who sheds a person’s blood, shall have his blood shed, for in the image of God humans were made’ - Genesis 9:6

‘Life for life, eye for eye’

Exodus 21:24

St Paul: St Paul teaches that Christians should accept and obey the laws of their country, which might include the death penalty.

Jesus never taught the death penalty was wrong.

Religious and non-religious people may argue that some crimes are so dreadful that the most extreme form of punishment is justified.

It is wrong to spend money on keeping someone in prison long term, when that money is needed by others in society.

Pope John Paul II

Quote: 

‘If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of the persons, public authority must limit itself to such means’

Evangelium Vitae 56

Catholic punishment should only ever be a last resort if society cannot be protected from an aggressor.

Pope John Paul II was arguing that capital punishment was the only way to preserve life in cases where there was no other way to keep innocent people safe. Today, however, the Catholic Church recognises that there is never a situation in which capital punishment would be necessary. Prisons are able to protect society from those who pose danger, and societies are now able to rehabilitate criminals effectively.

Arguments AGAINST Capital Punishment

Jesus said revenge was wrong:

‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also’

Mathew 5:38

In the 10 commandments it says 

‘Do not kill’

All life is sacred and made in the image of God. Only God has the right to give and take away life. 

‘Imago Dei’

St Augustine

Jesus came to reform sinners, you cannot reform a dead person. Religious and non-religious people may say there is always the risk of the wrong person being executed. The overall message of Christianity is love and forgiveness. Killing a murderer is still killing and ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’.