Pope Francis and the Death Penalty

Pope Francis and the Death Penalty

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

         One of the best decisions that Pope Francis made during his papacy was to arrive at the decision the death penalty or Capital Punishment is wrong and should be abolished.  What Francis did was to affirm that all life is precious in God’s eyes.  This is the age-old Catholic teaching that we are to preserve all life from conception to natural death.  How can anyone teach that abortion is a moral evil and capital punishment is a moral good?  There can be no hypocrisy in what the Church teaches.  If you notice, I have not made any excuses for abortion.  I did not even excuse the popular modern ones such as rape, incest, and the life of the mother.  All life must be preserved.  Abortion is the death penalty for that child.  If a mother loses her life in childbirth, she has become a type of “Jesus Christ” where she laid down her life for someone that she loves.  She has become an immediate saint.

         As far as capital punishment is concerned, the accused or convicted must stay incarcerated until a trial proves otherwise.  If that prisoner has been convicted, he or she must remain incarcerated for their entire life.  Because that person took the life of another human being, they must surrender all their freedoms until proven otherwise.  As for the victim’s family, they must forgive the human being for that act that affected their lives so terribly.  I realize that this is not easy, but we have the greatest example of mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ who forgave his murderers from the cross. We also do not know what punishment that God will impose upon this person.  Judgment and punishment are God’s concern.  We should not interfere in the work of God in that respect.  We also must stop the death penalty for the possibility that the accused or convicted may possibly be innocent of the crime.  Now, some may ask if anyone has been convicted of a crime and received capital punishment.  Just look at Good Friday.  That is correct.  Jesus Christ is that person.

        About two weeks before the papal decision, I wrote an article on Catholic365 about the Fifth Commandment decrying the death penalty.  I realize that Pope Francis was a pope who listened to many voices before making a decision.  He was the pope of the poor and downtrodden.  I just wondered if Pope Francis read my article and was convinced about my view about capital punishment.  If he was, I am greatly humbled that my lowly thoughts could affect a Universal Church.  I will never know the answer to that query until I reach Paradise.  Thank you, Pope Francis. 

          Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe.  Deo Gratias.  Gloria Tibi Domini.  Laus Deo.  See you in Paradise.