Catholic Death Penalty

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One of the things Catholics feel strongly about is the sanctity of life. From the womb to the tomb, Catholics believe that all life is sacred, and thus, should not be taken by human hands under any circumstances. From abortion to murder to the death penalty, all are viewed as cruel, due to the fact that it is ending a human’s life. Catholics believe that the only one able to decide whether a life should be taken is God, therefore, no human has the right to kill another human, no matter the circumstances. This stand on the treatment of human life is agreed on by many people; however, when it comes to the death penalty, also known as capital punishment, some of those voices that agreed before, now seem to be at odds. The Catholic belief still …show more content…

This is saying that when given the option, one should use the option that does not put any life at risk. When it comes to the death penalty, we have another option to punish those who commit such heinous crimes, and that other option is life in jail. Therefore, we should take the choice that “conforms with the dignity of the human person,” which in this case, would be life in …show more content…

As in there is no other alternative to protect the people, there is no way to defend the innocent from a “grave threat to human life” and keep the criminals right to life intact. Only under those circumstances, should capital punishment be used, for if there is another option that protects all human life, regardless of what it is, then we must always use that option. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says, “In Catholic teaching the state has the recourse to impose the death penalty upon criminals convicted of heinous crimes if this ultimate sanction is the only available means to protect society from a grave threat to human life. However, this right should not be exercised when other ways are available to punish criminals and to protect society that are more respectful of human life.” Under no circumstances should we take another human life unless it is the only option to protect all of the other human life. The death penalty is a dire resolution but if the lives of many others are at stake, then the people must choose the option that better protects human life, but only in those very few situations where there is no better alternative to protect the lives of

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