Death Penalty?

[justfran]

Would it be considered moral for a prisoner who was guilty of murder to deny their crime if they knew the punishment would be a death penalty, because s/he fully understands that their crime is in complete disregard for the dignity of human life and thinks it could be wrong (judging by what the Catechism says, that the death penalty shouldn't be carried out unless there really was no way to make the criminal repent). I'm thinking while it would be extremely honest to confess, but because the Catechism leans towards the negative side (but it's not actually doctrine as far as I know), it would be wrong to take a gamble on one's own salvation. After all, God didn't take Cain nor David's lives after they murdered someone.

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
12/14 - St. John of the Cross

justfran,

Your situation might work, if it did not involve the criminal lying his way out of his punishment. It's never moral to lie outright. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono