Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Justice or Sin?
studies conclude death penalty does not deter murder rates South region accounts for 80% of executions but has the highest murder rate Northeast has fewest executions and lowest murder rate
Courts Roper vs Simmons (2005) struck down the death penalty for minors Supreme Court decision in Atkins vs Virginia (2002) declared it unconstitutional to execute mentally retarded
Background Information
Church
long acknowledged right of state to use death penalty to protect society However, Church has clearly and steadily moved away from this Ethic of Life : Respect for each human life (Image of God) and for God (Creator) calls us to choose life
Official Teachings
JPII: The Gospel of Life: dignity of life must never be taken away, even in case of someone who does great evil USCCB: A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death:
sentence of death, when not necessary to protect society, violates respect for human life: State executions diminish us all
what do these core and highest Christian doctrines tell us about the morality of the death penalty?
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For victims and their families, those wrongly convicted, and those awaiting execution
About Catholic Social Teaching, US criminal justice policies Those in parish or community about Catholic social teachings Contact elected officials and discuss CST and see what can be done
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