"Brew City Brawler," a blogger who admits no arguments on his blog, is lying when he states that one 'cannot be Catholic and pro-death penalty.'
It's a cute play--thousands of bumper stickers proclaim that "You Cannot Be Catholic and Pro-Abortion."
But the difference is that the bumper sticker is true. Brew City's aphorism is--false. The official Church teaching remains that a State may impose the death penalty, although the teaching presents qualifications which are a high bar. At the same time, Church officials (including John Paul II) are opposed to using the death penalty, particularly in wealthy Western states where life-incarceration is an affordable option.
Want Catholicism? Try the Catechism, not al-Reuters--or Brew City Brawler.
Are you infallible when ruling ex blogedra?
ReplyDeleteDad29 is absolutely correct on the point.
ReplyDeleteX--the answer is Yes.
ReplyDeleteToday's letter from the bishops may have some relevance:
ReplyDeleteWisconsin Bishops, June 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. We are writing to ask that you affirm Wisconsin’s 153-year commitment to human life by voting “NO” on the upcoming advisory referendum to restore the death penalty.
2. We oppose the death penalty because we value human life, even when that life might seem unworthy to us. For Catholics, being “pro-life” means protecting life at all stages, from conception to natural death. A selective approach that values human life only in certain circumstances is inconsistent with who we are as a people of faith.
3. It is true that in the past the Church accepted the death penalty. But such use of lethal force by the state was strictly conditioned and limited. The Catechism of the Catholic Church now states that if “non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.” (# 2267) That was the point Pope John Paul II made in his 1995 letter, The Gospel of Life (# 56). "Today," the Pope concluded, "as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent."
Read it carefully, X.
ReplyDeleteWhat the Bishops did NOT quote was the part which STILL allows the death penalty.
It so happens, by the way, that I agree with our Wisconsin Bishops. While it is licit to administer the DP, I don't think Wisconsin needs it--not by a long shot.
Xoff, one day you'll get it right...
ReplyDeleteNow if the bishops would quote the Catechism when denying pro-abort politicians the Eucharist, or censuring errant theologians at catholic universities, we'd be getting somewhere.
ReplyDeleteYes, we should respect the right of State to do what is permitted it, but we should not be cheerleaders for it when it conflicts with our Faith. D'ya get that, Sen. Kerry?