December 9, 2009
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Question 197 – Death penalty
I know the Church doesn't sanction the death penalty except in cases where the subject can't be contained resonably and situations like that are rare, but I don't believe the situations are rare. I believe that every murderer, rapists, serial killers, and other such criminals all have the capability to escape from prison, and if they did they would continue to murder... ect. So wouldn't it make sence to get rid of criminals like this that are a significant danger to society because if they escape they would only cause more damage. Instead of leaving open the chance of many more lives being destroyed, no matter how small the chance, why doesn't the Church sanction killing them so there is a 0% chance of more damage being done? Is there anything wrong with that view?
R. Sungenis: Convicts are imprisoned on the basis that they will not escape, not on the possibility than could escape. As such, escape cannot be a criterion for whether someone gets the death penalty. Percentage wise, escapes from prison are very rare.
Comments (1)
If I might venture an opinion here; our justice system is based on the sacrament of confession. One offends the law, is punished, then executes pennance after which he is no longer liable for that offence. The fact that the individual will offend again is irrelevant as it is assumed these people, as all people, will offend again. Perhaps not in the same way, but perhaps not. What you are suggesting is that people be condemned without the possibility, or opportunity, of contrition or amending their lives. This does not reflect the divine law in the temporal law at all. For if it did, we would all be lost, as Christ would never have come in such a case.