Frequently Asked Questions about the Death Penalty
Q: Hasn?t the Church taught that governments can use the death penalty?
A: Yes. Certainly since the time of Thomas Aquinas and many Church fathers supported capital punishment as a way to protect society from aggressors. However, with the advent of clearer understanding and teaching on human rights and human dignity, as well as the advances in the penal system which enable governments to protect their citizens from violent offenders, the use of capital punishment has been seriously challenged by the Pope and others. In fact, the Holy Father says that the need to use the death penalty in this day and age is "very rare, if not practically non-existent." Finally in the Pope?s Christmas message and again during his January visit to St. Louis, he called for the abolition of capital punishment.
Q: Aren?t most Catholics in favor of the Death Penalty?
A: Unfortunately, yes. Recent polling data shows that there is very little difference between Catholics and non-Catholics in support of the death penalty--around 70 percent. Our culture often sees violence as a way to solve problems and many of us are caught up in this cultural message. We also understand that a common human response to violence is to seek revenge for these grisly crimes. But our faith calls us to proclaim life at every level: from the moment of conception until natural death. As we said in our document Living the Gospel of Life, "Our witness to respect for life shines most brightly when we demand respect for each and every human life, including the lives of those who fail to show that respect for others. The antidote to violence is love, not more violence." Additionally, polls have shown that support for capital punishment wanes considerably when people are asked if given the option of life without parole with attempts at restitution for the surviving victims over death penalty (from 70% in favor to 44%).
Q: Doesn?t the Bible support the death penalty, an eye for an eye, respecting the authority of the state, etc.?
A: The Hebrew scriptures call for the death penalty for many offenses including being disrespectful towards your parents, using God?s name in vane and adultery. The saying "an eye for an eye" was meant to limit punishment to no more than what will restore the community and not a call for excessive punishment. God?s own punishment to Cain who killed his brother Abel was not death, but banishment and a special mark was given Cain so no other would harm him. Additionally, the message of our Savior was life. Jesus confronted the executioners of the adulteress and forgave those in the very act of putting Him to death. He preached about life in abundance and urged non-violent ways to confront violence and evil. This message is more in keeping with the rich Catholic tradition of respect for life and repaying evil with love.
Q: Doesn?t the death penalty deter others from murder?
A: There are no studies that clearly show this. Most murders are done out of misplaced passion or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is doubtful that many of these murders would be deterred by some future threat.
Q: The Church seems to be standing up only for the criminals and not the victims. Is this the way you see it?
A: We understand the enormous pain that those close to a murdered loved one must feel. There are few institutions in our society that should be more attentive to the needs of victims than the Church. We recognize that these unspeakable acts of violence create enormous wounds that often even time cannot heal. Our family of faith must stand with all victims of violence as they struggle to overcome their terrible loss and fear and find some sense of peace.
Q: What can Catholics do to support the Bishops? position?
A: First we would recommend prayer: we need to pray for a change of heart on this issue because it is an issue of violence and violence begins in the heart. Secondly, we need to work to educate each other on the issue. A good starting place is the movie Dead Man Walking. The movie will begin the dialogue, but we urge small groups to discuss the movie in light of Catholic social teaching about human rights and human dignity. We also encourage parishes to hold discussion groups on the death penalty and to form ministries to provide long term spiritual and material assistance to grief-stricken families. We also encourage Catholics and parishes to sign on to Moratorium 2000, which calls on the United States and the United Nations to stop executions by the year 2000. Parishes can invite members of Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation which represents survivors of murder victims and are against the death penalty. Finally, support efforts in your state to keep the death penalty off the books or legislation that would offer alternatives to the death penalty.
Q: Don?t you think that the death penalty is something that family members deserve to feel that justice was done?
A: Vengeance is an understandable human reaction when great evil confronts us. However, as people of faith living in a very violent culture, we urge victims and their advocates to seek justice without vengeance. Yes, murderers deserve to be punished, but do we need to go to the extent of executing them? We believe that the cycle of violence must end. We had a case recently where the death sentence was given to a man who murdered a doctor who was performing abortions. The antidote to violence is love, not more violence.
Q: What other reasons do you use to support your position?
A: There are many other problems inherent in the death penalty including: Extinguishes the possibility for rehabilitation and compensation There is the possibility of executing an innocent person as highly publicized recent cases have shown. There are long and unavoidable delays which create anxiety and uncertainty for both the criminal and the victims? survivors; Creates unavoidable anguish for the criminal?s loved ones; Executions attract enormous publicity, much of it unhealthy, and fuels the human desire for revenge. This is not a Christian virtue; Overall, the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory manner: the poor and minorities are more likely to receive the sentence and it is rather arbitrarily applied when we consider all of the potential capital cases that come before juries.
