Thursday, November 09, 2006

Saddam and his situation

The death pentalty. Sticky topic, but often misrepresented, even among Catholics. While in some circumstances I can see Pope John Paul II's call for not using the death penalty, I am disappointed by Catholics who, when mentioning Pope John Paul II's statement, fail to qualify that with the Church's actual moral position.

Reading the Encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" even though the pope does discourage the death penalty in most cases, in that same encyclical he does still acknowledge the state's right and duty to protect its citizens.

I still tend to look at the issue in a way that not only looks at the person's life, but also their afterlife. Would it not be better for a man to do justice in this life than in the next?

It is certainly a decision I would never want to have to make. However, no matter what our feelings are, we need to be open to the truth. We need to look at what the Church actually teaches universally.

Dominico Bettinelli analyzes Cardinal Martino's confusing remarks.

As does Jimmy Aiken.
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1 comment:

Kevin Whiteman said...

We need to look at what the Church actually teaches universally.

Exactly RS. Another point that the anti-DP crowd fails to mention is that we, as Catholics, adhere to Faith AND Works.

With that said, the DP is Expiation of Sin. And the greatest example of all is the Death of Christ.

(As I ask rhetorically) How easy would it have been for Jesus to just wave His arm and open the Gates of Heaven? But as we know, Christ KNEW that it would take a Blood Sacrifice to expitate the Sin of Man.

Obviously, the anti-DP crowd has forgotten all about the "millstone" reference by Christ, as well as the need for expiation.