Jimmy Akin comments on the story Vatican opposes Saddam’s death sentence. It is often the case in the press where any comment by a Vatican official is translated as Vatican. They often do the same thing with local Bishops in saying the Catholic Church says when referencing their statements. This is of course very sloppy and Jimmy Akin says the headline should be something like "Vatican officials oppose Saddam’s death sentence" instead. This type of misreporting is worse though when it is done by a Catholic source such as in this case the Catholic News Agency.
Jimmy then goes on to comment on other misstatements made in the article as they apply to Catholic teaching on the death penalty.
6 comments
They aren’t protesting very loud, seems to me. Nor do I think many tears are going to be shed on the day of Saddam’s execution, at least no non-official ones.
Wow, a yahoo in Oklahoma (with the first name of “Jimmy,” wearing a cowboy hat, and with arms crossed (how macho can a Christian get), pretends to lecture a Cardinal in the Vatican. I’m so impressed (not).
Lighten up. I don’t like the death penalty at all, but I’m willing to admit that, from the perspective of Catholic teaching, this is not a clear-cut issue, and Catholics are allowed some discretion to disagree. The quoted official is probably right about the death penalty, but his statements aren’t infallible Church teaching, and we’re not bound to believe every word he said.
Incidentially, Jimmy Akin is a professional apologist, and pretty qualified in thse matters. His opinons aren’t infallible Church teaching either.
The Church has always maintained that a nation has the right to utilize the death penalty for 1)the protection of citizens & 2) to maintain public order (ie, to deter future crime by showing would-be violators what punishment awaits them). While the Catechism and JPII emphasized the first reason for using (or not using) the death penalty, the second reason is still a valid excuse for capital punishment.
To a degree, capital punishment has always been seen as an act of mercy – not revenge. If one is promptly sentenced and prepared for execution, he is oftentimes repentant and goes to God with a clear conscience. However, languishing away in a destitute prison which, to this day, is a haven for immorality, the intellect is darkened and the soul dies a slow death. The chances of a mutilated conscience like that repenting is slim. Therefore, the soul is likely to face its creator ill-prepared.
Rich, well said.
Rich, I’m sorry, but your apologia for capital punishment inducing repentance more effectively than life in prison seems like a lot fo wishful thinking. One could easily make the argument for the other side. More time, more space to open to God’s grace. Facing immediate death could just as easily induce hatred and blaming the system for the person’s own wrongdoing.
For the record, I’m against the death penalty in all cases. And I do think that is Catholic teaching–you’re right about the “qualifiers,” but it is impossible for me to imagine that there is not a way to handle the safety of society and punishment without execution.