"...the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made... to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary."

~Pope John Paul II, Homily at Mass, St. Louis, Missouri (January 27, 1999)

On the basis of the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, we seek to affirm a consistent culture of life by advocating for the abolition of the death penalty.  Our position on this issue is part of what Cardinal Bernadin (referring to John 19:23) has called the “seamless garment” of the church’s teaching on “the ethic of life.”

We recognize that many people who support the death penalty often do so with an appeal to Scripture.  These individuals might appeal to Exodus 21:23-24, for example: “If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth….”  (similar iterations can also be found in Leviticus 24:19-20 and Deuteronomy 19:21).  These codifications of Mosaic law leave no doubt that capital punishment was permissible in ancient Israel.  Yet, we also find the following in the writings of the prophet Ezekiel: “As I live, says the Lord God, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man’s conversion, that he may live.” (33:11)

Wishing to avoid the danger of searching for “proof texts” in support of our position, we attempt to advocate a position that is consistent with the whole thrust of Scripture and summed up in the Gospels: God’s desire for life, mercy, redemption, and reconciliation. A quote often attributed to Ghandi sums this up well: “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”

This is not an easy issue to adjudicate.  Our position does not rest on pat answers and bumper sticker quotes.  We invite you to place any assumptions or foregone conclusions you may have on hold…

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