The Catholic Church and Capital Punishment

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, officially, the Catholic Church opposes the death penalty, but a large majority of Americans support capital punishment. The author points out that, in the past history of the church, some theologians, such as St. Thomas Aquinas, have allowed for the practice of capital punishment, although some modern Catholic opponents say Aquinas's position is commensurate with killing for self-defense, not formal, state-sanctioned death when the offending sinner is incarcerated and no longer dangerous to the community. The paper concludes that the consensus within the faith community indicates capital punishment is contrary to the teachings of Christ; but, in terms of the theological reasoning and justification for this position, there still remains a point of contention, rhetorically and in terms of Church rationales.

From the Paper:

"Not all American Catholics who are outspoken against the death penalty have condemned capital punishment in the same language and terms. Rather than stress that the death penalty is against the free laws of the United States, and the concept of cruel and unusual punishment, Sister Prejean of "Dead Man Walking" fame, prays in her prayer against capital punishment. "Jesus, our brother, you suffered execution at the hands of the state," suggests that to engage in act of capital punishment is to mimic, however unconsciously, the actions of Christ's executioners. Rather, she implores Christ to "Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduing love may help them heal.""

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