Is The Death Penalty Ever Necessary In Our Society

[qfnol31]

I didn't know what to say to whether or not it is necessary today.

[StColette]

I don't like the Death penalty whatsoever. It is not the choice of humanity to decide who's life should be taken for any reason. And I know that the Catechism says the following:

[quote]2267 Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent."[/quote]

there are those "rare" "very very rare" cases that may call for it, but I still do not approve of it.

Edited July 8, 2004 by StColette

[Aloysius]

I recomend reading this

[url="http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0104/articles/dulles.html"]http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0104...les/dulles.html[/url]

[Aloysius]

at the end it gives ten main points

[quote]1) The purpose of punishment in secular courts is fourfold: the rehabilitation of the criminal, the protection of society from the criminal, the deterrence of other potential criminals, and retributive justice.

2) Just retribution, which seeks to establish the right order of things, should not be confused with vindictiveness, which is reprehensible.

3) Punishment may and should be administered with respect and love for the person punished.

4) The person who does evil may deserve death. According to the biblical accounts, God sometimes administers the penalty himself and sometimes directs others to do so.

5) Individuals and private groups may not take it upon themselves to inflict death as a penalty.

6) The State has the right, in principle, to inflict capital punishment in cases where there is no doubt about the gravity of the offense and the guilt of the accused.

7) The death penalty should not be imposed if the purposes of punishment can be equally well or better achieved by bloodless means, such as imprisonment.

8) The sentence of death may be improper if it has serious negative effects on society, such as miscarriages of justice, the increase of vindictiveness, or disrespect for the value of innocent human life.

9) Persons who specially represent the Church, such as clergy and religious, in view of their specific vocation, should abstain from pronouncing or executing the sentence of death.

10) Catholics, in seeking to form their judgment as to whether the death penalty is to be supported as a general policy, or in a given situation, should be attentive to the guidance of the pope and the bishops. Current Catholic teaching should be understood, as I have sought to understand it, in continuity with Scripture and tradition.

[/quote]

[Iacobus]

I don't think it is. Plus I think it is more of a just punishment to let them wait for God.

[RemnantRules]

Well i'm sure Zach will talk more in detail about this.

Hey Zach make sure you tell about the Bin Laden scenario dude!

[qfnol31]

My question was if Bin Laden were captured, would it be better for us to keep him alive and risk lots of innocent lives because of terrorism, or should he be given the death penalty?

Same with Saddam.

[cmotherofpirl]

I believe if you deliberately take the life of another human being [excluding war] that you forfeit your right to life.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Jul 8 2004, 08:40 AM'] I believe if you deliberately take the life of another human being [excluding war] that you forfeit your right to life. [/quote]

[ironmonk]

It is necessary sometimes to use the death penalty to protect society.

If Osama Bin Laden is captured - and not put to death - then hostages would be taken left and right to get them to release him.

It is not as needed as it has been used.

Since 1976 about 840 people have been put to death.

Some who have not been put to death, have been released... only to kill more people.

I think the death penalty problem is miniscule to the abortion problem. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

God Bless,
ironmonk

[Lil Red]

the problem is that there are so many cases out there now where people's supposed "guilt" is shown by DNA or other forensic evidence, that the person is innocent. if we keep executing people who are innocent, what does that make us? (i'm obviously not talking about Saddam or Osama)

[ClaireBear]

I think this is what the Pope says about it... The death penalty is immoral, because God is the author of life. There is an exception, and it comes into play in a "rare, if not practically nonexistent situation when a prisoner cannot be contained and is a threat to society." This would apply, for example, in a third world country, where they don't have adequate and secure jails. This is not true in the United States, we have (can I use this word?) "great" jails, and therefore should not be legal. Something that's really interesting to think about is that it actually costs more to execute a person than to imprison them for life.

[ClaireBear]

and I just read scrolled up and StColette said basically the same thing... sorry

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='ClaireBear' date='Jul 8 2004, 12:39 PM'] I think this is what the Pope says about it... The death penalty is immoral, because God is the author of life. There is an exception, and it comes into play in a "rare, if not practically nonexistent situation when a prisoner cannot be contained and is a threat to society." This would apply, for example, in a third world country, where they don't have adequate and secure jails. This is not true in the United States, we have (can I use this word?) "great" jails, and therefore should not be legal. Something that's really interesting to think about is that it actually costs more to execute a person than to imprison them for life. [/quote]
We do not have great jails, and people are still threats to society and still need to be on occasion, executed.

[Crusader_4]

I agree and i am almost completley against the death penalthy now i am going to through a situation into play should Saddam Hussein receive the death penalty? Because no doubt he is guilty....but is he a danger to the public alive as a prisioner? (question i have been wrestling with)