Capital Punishment - Condemnation to Hopelessness

I had the opportunity this week to sit down, one on one, with a convicted murderer. I didn’t know the man to be one convicted of such a heinous crime when I met him; when we decided to have a private discussion regarding his background for employment purposes

I have had the opportunity to meet many people during my career as a professional recruiter. He was not the first felon I have met, convicted of a horrendous crime. He may be the most memorable. So many people, names, faces and stories; this one, definitely stood out.

Someone who commits such a crime oftentimes looks and acts just like you and me. We are unable to see into the depths of someone’s heart and soul at first glance. What I learned this week was valuable. People can change.

In the wake of a lawful murder, carried out in the name of Capital Punishment in the state of Georgia; I met and came to know, first hand, that persons can be rehabilitated. Bad people can become good. Menaces to a community can become productive members of a society; as this man had. I was reminded of St. Paul (Saul of Taursus), and his conversion. The terrible crimes that were attributed to him, before Jesus saved him, and offered him much more than any of us deserve.

These conversions can only happen though, if given a chance.

Who is it that decides to give some that chance, and not others? How are these decisions made? How is it that one person is condemned to die, while another gets a chance at parole? Why are some offered hope, and others not?

(Pope Francis, in his address to the United States Congress) "I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty. Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation."

Who are we to make these judgements concerning life and death? By what authority do we, as mere mortals, determine who lives and who dies? How do we decide who can be rehabilitated and who cannot? Who is worthy of hope and who gets hopelessness?

Why are prosecutorial conviction records, and wheeling and dealing over testimony even a consideration when someone’s life is at stake? We have become so cavalier towards the value of life in this society at our highest and most prestigious levels, and wonder why those falling in line behind and below do the same. The marginalized in society just execute that disregard in different outlets than the prominent. The prominent exercise the death penalty, the less prominent exercise this lack of respect for life in criminal endeavors. Is there really any difference?

Back at my office, I listened to a person’s story and I was amazed. How remarkable is it for someone to come back from such a place of darkness; a man, imprisoned for close to two decades? In a place of lost hope, this man found hope, and he transformed himself and his life.

He touched my heart and spirit. His story brought tears to my eyes – and marvel. I told him so. As we departed, I wished him well and let him know how much I admired him, and I do; and you should too.