Our Catechism teaches us that the use of the death penalty is only allowed in those cases where non-lethal means are in sufficient to defend and protect peoples’ safety from an aggressor. In this case, the death penalty would be allowed but according to Pope St. John Paul II, “this is very rare and practically non-existent.” In our state, juries can choose life without parole for convicted killers and this has worked well. They are locked up for life and none has escaped, a severe punishment. Society is well protected. Given the development of the doctrine involving the death penalty, in August 2018, Pope Francis revised the instruction concerning the execution of human beings in stating: “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and furthermore called for the Church to work with determination for its abolition worldwide.
Please light a candle on November 30th, at 5pm for those being executed and the victim’s
families, and to end the death penalty
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