The Catholic Church and the Death Penalty<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Church's Position Throughout History<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\nWhat does the Church Teach Right Now?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe Importance of Human Dignity<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Catholic Church's Position<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTraditionally, the Church accepted the death penalty as legitimate punishment in certain cases, but this has evolved over time. Let us review that history and what current Church teaching says about the death penalty.<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHistory of Church Teaching on the Death Penalty<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"St.](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Painting-of-St.-Augustine-of-Hippo-receiving-the-truth-as-he-writes-and-holding-a-flaming-heart.jpg\" "\\"Painting")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Early Church<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe early Church had to endure frequent and severe use of the state\u2019s power of capital punishment - as witnessed by her many martyrs.<\/p>\n
However, while the early Church Fathers had varying views, many, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, recognized both the state\u2019s right to capital punishment and the Lord\u2019s call for mercy.<\/p>\n
St. Clement of Alexandria, in the second century, said, \u201cWhen one falls into any incurable evil\u2026it will be for his good if he is put to death.\u201d \u00a0(Stromata 1:27)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn summary, the great St. Augustine taught: \"If, then, there were no other means established to curb the malice of the wicked, extreme necessity might perhaps urge that such men be put to death, though, in our view, if no milder punishment could be imposed on them, we would prefer that they be released rather than that the sufferings of our brothers be avenged by the shedding of their blood.\" (Letter 134, 4)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tSt. Ambrose in the 5th century said the death penalty is lawful but recommends merciful dealing wherever possible: \"You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it\". (Letter, 25)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. Augustine taught the death penalty was legitimate: \u201cthere are some exceptions made by the divine authority to its own law, that men may not be put to death.\u201d (The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBut he also advised, \u201cmercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared.\u201d (Letter 189, 6)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/A-mid-13th-century-fresco-painting-of-Pope-Innocent-III-in-the-Monastery-of-St.-Benedict-in-Subiaco-Rome.jpg\" "\\"A")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddle Ages\/Renaissance<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tT<\/span>his teaching continued through the Middles Ages and Renaissance.<\/p>\nPope Innocent III, in 1208, acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment while also demonstrating the historical context of the Church\u2019s position. (Profession of Faith for Waldensian)<\/a><\/p>\nSt. Thomas Aquinas provided the classical justification for capital punishment, arguing it serves the common good by removing dangerous individuals and deterring crime: \u201c[I]f a man be dangerous and infectious to the community\u2026it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good.\u201d (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 64, Part. 2)<\/a><\/p>\nIn 1556 the Church stated, \u201cAnother kind of lawful slaying belongs to the civil authorities, to whom is entrusted power of life and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect the innocent.\u201d (The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III, The Fifth Commandment, pg. 258)<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pope-Pius-X-photo-from-1905.jpg\" "\\"Pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tModern Times<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPOPE PIUS X<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cHis catechism of 1908, states, \u201cIt is lawful to kill when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime\u201d. (The Fifth Commandment, Question 3)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPOPE PIUS XII<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDefended the state's right to execute criminals while clarifying the death penalty is not so much the State taking a life as the person forfeiting it by his actions:<\/span><\/p>\n\"Even when it comes to the execution of a person sentenced to death, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life\u2026[as] by his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life.\" (Speech, Sec. III, 14 September 1952)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Teaching Begins to Evolve<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/johnpaulii-cropped-landscape.jpg\" "\\"johnpaulii-cropped-landscape\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means\u201d.<\/h5>\n(Previous Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II began to significantly qualify the states right to impose capital punishment because \u201cIt is clear that\u2026[punishment] ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society\u201d. And \u201cas a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.\u201d (Evangelium Vitae, 56)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did Pope St. John Paul II limit capital punishment? \u201c[B]ecause [other means] better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd in 1999 he said, \"I renew the appeal\u2026for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.\" <\/span>(Homily in St. Louis, Apostolic Journey to America)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/popebenedict_resized.jpg\" "\\"popebenedict_resized\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI continued his predecessor\u2019s approach of encouraging the restriction and minimization of the use of the death penalty.<\/span><\/p>\nWhile his 2005 encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est)<\/a> does not address the death penalty directly, it emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the sanctity of life.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said: \u201cI draw the attention of society\u2019s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty\u201d. (Africae Munus, 83)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\nAnd later he said to a visiting group, \u201cI express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.\u201d (General Audience)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis: The Teaching Changes<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cthe death penalty is inadmissible\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\nAddress, 11 October 2017<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\nThis address led to\u00a0a 2018 change in the Catechism:<\/p>\n
The \u201cChurch teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that \u2018the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\u2019 and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Pope](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/The-lethal-injection-chamber-at-San-Quentin-state-prison-in-California-black-and-white.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe death penalty is \u201cinadmissible\u201d in all cases.<\/span><\/h5>\n\u201cIt is necessary\u2026to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
The Church's Position Throughout History<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
What does the Church Teach Right Now?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
The Importance of Human Dignity<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
The Catholic Church's Position<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTraditionally, the Church accepted the death penalty as legitimate punishment in certain cases, but this has evolved over time. Let us review that history and what current Church teaching says about the death penalty.<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHistory of Church Teaching on the Death Penalty<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Early Church<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe early Church had to endure frequent and severe use of the state\u2019s power of capital punishment - as witnessed by her many martyrs.<\/p>\n
However, while the early Church Fathers had varying views, many, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, recognized both the state\u2019s right to capital punishment and the Lord\u2019s call for mercy.<\/p>\n
St. Clement of Alexandria, in the second century, said, \u201cWhen one falls into any incurable evil\u2026it will be for his good if he is put to death.\u201d \u00a0(Stromata 1:27)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn summary, the great St. Augustine taught: \"If, then, there were no other means established to curb the malice of the wicked, extreme necessity might perhaps urge that such men be put to death, though, in our view, if no milder punishment could be imposed on them, we would prefer that they be released rather than that the sufferings of our brothers be avenged by the shedding of their blood.\" (Letter 134, 4)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tSt. Ambrose in the 5th century said the death penalty is lawful but recommends merciful dealing wherever possible: \"You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it\". (Letter, 25)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. Augustine taught the death penalty was legitimate: \u201cthere are some exceptions made by the divine authority to its own law, that men may not be put to death.\u201d (The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBut he also advised, \u201cmercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared.\u201d (Letter 189, 6)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddle Ages\/Renaissance<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tT<\/span>his teaching continued through the Middles Ages and Renaissance.<\/p>\nPope Innocent III, in 1208, acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment while also demonstrating the historical context of the Church\u2019s position. (Profession of Faith for Waldensian)<\/a><\/p>\nSt. Thomas Aquinas provided the classical justification for capital punishment, arguing it serves the common good by removing dangerous individuals and deterring crime: \u201c[I]f a man be dangerous and infectious to the community\u2026it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good.\u201d (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 64, Part. 2)<\/a><\/p>\nIn 1556 the Church stated, \u201cAnother kind of lawful slaying belongs to the civil authorities, to whom is entrusted power of life and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect the innocent.\u201d (The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III, The Fifth Commandment, pg. 258)<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tModern Times<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPOPE PIUS X<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cHis catechism of 1908, states, \u201cIt is lawful to kill when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime\u201d. (The Fifth Commandment, Question 3)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPOPE PIUS XII<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDefended the state's right to execute criminals while clarifying the death penalty is not so much the State taking a life as the person forfeiting it by his actions:<\/span><\/p>\n\"Even when it comes to the execution of a person sentenced to death, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life\u2026[as] by his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life.\" (Speech, Sec. III, 14 September 1952)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Teaching Begins to Evolve<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means\u201d.<\/h5>\n(Previous Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II began to significantly qualify the states right to impose capital punishment because \u201cIt is clear that\u2026[punishment] ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society\u201d. And \u201cas a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.\u201d (Evangelium Vitae, 56)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did Pope St. John Paul II limit capital punishment? \u201c[B]ecause [other means] better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd in 1999 he said, \"I renew the appeal\u2026for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.\" <\/span>(Homily in St. Louis, Apostolic Journey to America)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI continued his predecessor\u2019s approach of encouraging the restriction and minimization of the use of the death penalty.<\/span><\/p>\nWhile his 2005 encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est)<\/a> does not address the death penalty directly, it emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the sanctity of life.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said: \u201cI draw the attention of society\u2019s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty\u201d. (Africae Munus, 83)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\nAnd later he said to a visiting group, \u201cI express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.\u201d (General Audience)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis: The Teaching Changes<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cthe death penalty is inadmissible\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\nAddress, 11 October 2017<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\nThis address led to\u00a0a 2018 change in the Catechism:<\/p>\n
The \u201cChurch teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that \u2018the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\u2019 and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe death penalty is \u201cinadmissible\u201d in all cases.<\/span><\/h5>\n\u201cIt is necessary\u2026to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Traditionally, the Church accepted the death penalty as legitimate punishment in certain cases, but this has evolved over time. Let us review that history and what current Church teaching says about the death penalty.<\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHistory of Church Teaching on the Death Penalty<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Early Church<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe early Church had to endure frequent and severe use of the state\u2019s power of capital punishment - as witnessed by her many martyrs.<\/p>\n
However, while the early Church Fathers had varying views, many, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, recognized both the state\u2019s right to capital punishment and the Lord\u2019s call for mercy.<\/p>\n
St. Clement of Alexandria, in the second century, said, \u201cWhen one falls into any incurable evil\u2026it will be for his good if he is put to death.\u201d \u00a0(Stromata 1:27)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn summary, the great St. Augustine taught: \"If, then, there were no other means established to curb the malice of the wicked, extreme necessity might perhaps urge that such men be put to death, though, in our view, if no milder punishment could be imposed on them, we would prefer that they be released rather than that the sufferings of our brothers be avenged by the shedding of their blood.\" (Letter 134, 4)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tSt. Ambrose in the 5th century said the death penalty is lawful but recommends merciful dealing wherever possible: \"You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it\". (Letter, 25)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. Augustine taught the death penalty was legitimate: \u201cthere are some exceptions made by the divine authority to its own law, that men may not be put to death.\u201d (The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBut he also advised, \u201cmercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared.\u201d (Letter 189, 6)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddle Ages\/Renaissance<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tT<\/span>his teaching continued through the Middles Ages and Renaissance.<\/p>\nPope Innocent III, in 1208, acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment while also demonstrating the historical context of the Church\u2019s position. (Profession of Faith for Waldensian)<\/a><\/p>\nSt. Thomas Aquinas provided the classical justification for capital punishment, arguing it serves the common good by removing dangerous individuals and deterring crime: \u201c[I]f a man be dangerous and infectious to the community\u2026it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good.\u201d (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 64, Part. 2)<\/a><\/p>\nIn 1556 the Church stated, \u201cAnother kind of lawful slaying belongs to the civil authorities, to whom is entrusted power of life and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect the innocent.\u201d (The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III, The Fifth Commandment, pg. 258)<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tModern Times<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPOPE PIUS X<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cHis catechism of 1908, states, \u201cIt is lawful to kill when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime\u201d. (The Fifth Commandment, Question 3)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPOPE PIUS XII<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDefended the state's right to execute criminals while clarifying the death penalty is not so much the State taking a life as the person forfeiting it by his actions:<\/span><\/p>\n\"Even when it comes to the execution of a person sentenced to death, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life\u2026[as] by his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life.\" (Speech, Sec. III, 14 September 1952)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Teaching Begins to Evolve<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means\u201d.<\/h5>\n(Previous Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II began to significantly qualify the states right to impose capital punishment because \u201cIt is clear that\u2026[punishment] ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society\u201d. And \u201cas a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.\u201d (Evangelium Vitae, 56)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did Pope St. John Paul II limit capital punishment? \u201c[B]ecause [other means] better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd in 1999 he said, \"I renew the appeal\u2026for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.\" <\/span>(Homily in St. Louis, Apostolic Journey to America)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI continued his predecessor\u2019s approach of encouraging the restriction and minimization of the use of the death penalty.<\/span><\/p>\nWhile his 2005 encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est)<\/a> does not address the death penalty directly, it emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the sanctity of life.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said: \u201cI draw the attention of society\u2019s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty\u201d. (Africae Munus, 83)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\nAnd later he said to a visiting group, \u201cI express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.\u201d (General Audience)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis: The Teaching Changes<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cthe death penalty is inadmissible\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\nAddress, 11 October 2017<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\nThis address led to\u00a0a 2018 change in the Catechism:<\/p>\n
The \u201cChurch teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that \u2018the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\u2019 and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe death penalty is \u201cinadmissible\u201d in all cases.<\/span><\/h5>\n\u201cIt is necessary\u2026to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
History of Church Teaching on the Death Penalty<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Early Church<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe early Church had to endure frequent and severe use of the state\u2019s power of capital punishment - as witnessed by her many martyrs.<\/p>\n
However, while the early Church Fathers had varying views, many, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, recognized both the state\u2019s right to capital punishment and the Lord\u2019s call for mercy.<\/p>\n
St. Clement of Alexandria, in the second century, said, \u201cWhen one falls into any incurable evil\u2026it will be for his good if he is put to death.\u201d \u00a0(Stromata 1:27)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn summary, the great St. Augustine taught: \"If, then, there were no other means established to curb the malice of the wicked, extreme necessity might perhaps urge that such men be put to death, though, in our view, if no milder punishment could be imposed on them, we would prefer that they be released rather than that the sufferings of our brothers be avenged by the shedding of their blood.\" (Letter 134, 4)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tSt. Ambrose in the 5th century said the death penalty is lawful but recommends merciful dealing wherever possible: \"You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it\". (Letter, 25)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. Augustine taught the death penalty was legitimate: \u201cthere are some exceptions made by the divine authority to its own law, that men may not be put to death.\u201d (The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBut he also advised, \u201cmercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared.\u201d (Letter 189, 6)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddle Ages\/Renaissance<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tT<\/span>his teaching continued through the Middles Ages and Renaissance.<\/p>\nPope Innocent III, in 1208, acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment while also demonstrating the historical context of the Church\u2019s position. (Profession of Faith for Waldensian)<\/a><\/p>\nSt. Thomas Aquinas provided the classical justification for capital punishment, arguing it serves the common good by removing dangerous individuals and deterring crime: \u201c[I]f a man be dangerous and infectious to the community\u2026it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good.\u201d (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 64, Part. 2)<\/a><\/p>\nIn 1556 the Church stated, \u201cAnother kind of lawful slaying belongs to the civil authorities, to whom is entrusted power of life and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect the innocent.\u201d (The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III, The Fifth Commandment, pg. 258)<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tModern Times<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPOPE PIUS X<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cHis catechism of 1908, states, \u201cIt is lawful to kill when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime\u201d. (The Fifth Commandment, Question 3)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPOPE PIUS XII<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDefended the state's right to execute criminals while clarifying the death penalty is not so much the State taking a life as the person forfeiting it by his actions:<\/span><\/p>\n\"Even when it comes to the execution of a person sentenced to death, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life\u2026[as] by his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life.\" (Speech, Sec. III, 14 September 1952)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Teaching Begins to Evolve<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means\u201d.<\/h5>\n(Previous Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II began to significantly qualify the states right to impose capital punishment because \u201cIt is clear that\u2026[punishment] ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society\u201d. And \u201cas a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.\u201d (Evangelium Vitae, 56)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did Pope St. John Paul II limit capital punishment? \u201c[B]ecause [other means] better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd in 1999 he said, \"I renew the appeal\u2026for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.\" <\/span>(Homily in St. Louis, Apostolic Journey to America)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI continued his predecessor\u2019s approach of encouraging the restriction and minimization of the use of the death penalty.<\/span><\/p>\nWhile his 2005 encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est)<\/a> does not address the death penalty directly, it emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the sanctity of life.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said: \u201cI draw the attention of society\u2019s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty\u201d. (Africae Munus, 83)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\nAnd later he said to a visiting group, \u201cI express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.\u201d (General Audience)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis: The Teaching Changes<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cthe death penalty is inadmissible\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\nAddress, 11 October 2017<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\nThis address led to\u00a0a 2018 change in the Catechism:<\/p>\n
The \u201cChurch teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that \u2018the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\u2019 and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe death penalty is \u201cinadmissible\u201d in all cases.<\/span><\/h5>\n\u201cIt is necessary\u2026to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>The Early Church<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe early Church had to endure frequent and severe use of the state\u2019s power of capital punishment - as witnessed by her many martyrs.<\/p>\n
However, while the early Church Fathers had varying views, many, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, recognized both the state\u2019s right to capital punishment and the Lord\u2019s call for mercy.<\/p>\n
St. Clement of Alexandria, in the second century, said, \u201cWhen one falls into any incurable evil\u2026it will be for his good if he is put to death.\u201d \u00a0(Stromata 1:27)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIn summary, the great St. Augustine taught: \"If, then, there were no other means established to curb the malice of the wicked, extreme necessity might perhaps urge that such men be put to death, though, in our view, if no milder punishment could be imposed on them, we would prefer that they be released rather than that the sufferings of our brothers be avenged by the shedding of their blood.\" (Letter 134, 4)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\tSt. Ambrose in the 5th century said the death penalty is lawful but recommends merciful dealing wherever possible: \"You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it\". (Letter, 25)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSt. Augustine taught the death penalty was legitimate: \u201cthere are some exceptions made by the divine authority to its own law, that men may not be put to death.\u201d (The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nBut he also advised, \u201cmercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared.\u201d (Letter 189, 6)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMiddle Ages\/Renaissance<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tT<\/span>his teaching continued through the Middles Ages and Renaissance.<\/p>\nPope Innocent III, in 1208, acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment while also demonstrating the historical context of the Church\u2019s position. (Profession of Faith for Waldensian)<\/a><\/p>\nSt. Thomas Aquinas provided the classical justification for capital punishment, arguing it serves the common good by removing dangerous individuals and deterring crime: \u201c[I]f a man be dangerous and infectious to the community\u2026it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good.\u201d (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 64, Part. 2)<\/a><\/p>\nIn 1556 the Church stated, \u201cAnother kind of lawful slaying belongs to the civil authorities, to whom is entrusted power of life and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect the innocent.\u201d (The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III, The Fifth Commandment, pg. 258)<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tModern Times<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPOPE PIUS X<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cHis catechism of 1908, states, \u201cIt is lawful to kill when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime\u201d. (The Fifth Commandment, Question 3)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPOPE PIUS XII<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nDefended the state's right to execute criminals while clarifying the death penalty is not so much the State taking a life as the person forfeiting it by his actions:<\/span><\/p>\n\"Even when it comes to the execution of a person sentenced to death, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life\u2026[as] by his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life.\" (Speech, Sec. III, 14 September 1952)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Teaching Begins to Evolve<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means\u201d.<\/h5>\n(Previous Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II began to significantly qualify the states right to impose capital punishment because \u201cIt is clear that\u2026[punishment] ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society\u201d. And \u201cas a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.\u201d (Evangelium Vitae, 56)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhy did Pope St. John Paul II limit capital punishment? \u201c[B]ecause [other means] better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd in 1999 he said, \"I renew the appeal\u2026for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.\" <\/span>(Homily in St. Louis, Apostolic Journey to America)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Benedict XVI continued his predecessor\u2019s approach of encouraging the restriction and minimization of the use of the death penalty.<\/span><\/p>\nWhile his 2005 encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est)<\/a> does not address the death penalty directly, it emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the sanctity of life.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said: \u201cI draw the attention of society\u2019s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty\u201d. (Africae Munus, 83)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\nAnd later he said to a visiting group, \u201cI express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.\u201d (General Audience)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis: The Teaching Changes<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cthe death penalty is inadmissible\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\nAddress, 11 October 2017<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\nThis address led to\u00a0a 2018 change in the Catechism:<\/p>\n
The \u201cChurch teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that \u2018the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\u2019 and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhy did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nFor several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe death penalty is \u201cinadmissible\u201d in all cases.<\/span><\/h5>\n\u201cIt is necessary\u2026to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
The early Church had to endure frequent and severe use of the state\u2019s power of capital punishment - as witnessed by her many martyrs.<\/p>\n
However, while the early Church Fathers had varying views, many, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, recognized both the state\u2019s right to capital punishment and the Lord\u2019s call for mercy.<\/p>\n
St. Clement of Alexandria, in the second century, said, \u201cWhen one falls into any incurable evil\u2026it will be for his good if he is put to death.\u201d \u00a0(Stromata 1:27)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In summary, the great St. Augustine taught: \"If, then, there were no other means established to curb the malice of the wicked, extreme necessity might perhaps urge that such men be put to death, though, in our view, if no milder punishment could be imposed on them, we would prefer that they be released rather than that the sufferings of our brothers be avenged by the shedding of their blood.\" (Letter 134, 4)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> St. Ambrose in the 5th century said the death penalty is lawful but recommends merciful dealing wherever possible: \"You will be excused if you do it, but you will be admired if you refrain when you might have done it\". (Letter, 25)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n St. Augustine taught the death penalty was legitimate: \u201cthere are some exceptions made by the divine authority to its own law, that men may not be put to death.\u201d (The City of God, Book 1, Chapter 21)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n But he also advised, \u201cmercy is due to the vanquished or the captive, especially in the case in which future troubling of the peace is not to be feared.\u201d (Letter 189, 6)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> T<\/span>his teaching continued through the Middles Ages and Renaissance.<\/p>\n Pope Innocent III, in 1208, acknowledged the legitimacy of capital punishment while also demonstrating the historical context of the Church\u2019s position. (Profession of Faith for Waldensian)<\/a><\/p>\n St. Thomas Aquinas provided the classical justification for capital punishment, arguing it serves the common good by removing dangerous individuals and deterring crime: \u201c[I]f a man be dangerous and infectious to the community\u2026it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good.\u201d (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 64, Part. 2)<\/a><\/p>\n In 1556 the Church stated, \u201cAnother kind of lawful slaying belongs to the civil authorities, to whom is entrusted power of life and death, by the legal and judicious exercise of which they punish the guilty and protect the innocent.\u201d (The Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III, The Fifth Commandment, pg. 258)<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cHis catechism of 1908, states, \u201cIt is lawful to kill when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime\u201d. (The Fifth Commandment, Question 3)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Defended the state's right to execute criminals while clarifying the death penalty is not so much the State taking a life as the person forfeiting it by his actions:<\/span><\/p>\n \"Even when it comes to the execution of a person sentenced to death, the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life\u2026[as] by his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life.\" (Speech, Sec. III, 14 September 1952)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Pope St. John Paul II began to significantly qualify the states right to impose capital punishment because \u201cIt is clear that\u2026[punishment] ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society\u201d. And \u201cas a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.\u201d (Evangelium Vitae, 56)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Why did Pope St. John Paul II limit capital punishment? \u201c[B]ecause [other means] better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And in 1999 he said, \"I renew the appeal\u2026for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.\" <\/span>(Homily in St. Louis, Apostolic Journey to America)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Pope Benedict XVI continued his predecessor\u2019s approach of encouraging the restriction and minimization of the use of the death penalty.<\/span><\/p>\n While his 2005 encyclical, (Deus Caritas Est)<\/a> does not address the death penalty directly, it emphasizes the importance of human dignity and the sanctity of life.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said: \u201cI draw the attention of society\u2019s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty\u201d. (Africae Munus, 83)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n And later he said to a visiting group, \u201cI express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.\u201d (General Audience)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> This address led to\u00a0a 2018 change in the Catechism:<\/p>\n The \u201cChurch teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that \u2018the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person\u2019 and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> <\/span><\/p>\n For several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <\/span><\/p>\n For several reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2026there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)<\/a> \u201cI would stress that \u2018it is impossible to imagine that states today have no other means than capital punishment to protect the lives of other people from the unjust aggressor\u2019.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 267)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis explains: \u201cThe firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 269)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Middle Ages\/Renaissance<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Modern Times<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
POPE PIUS X<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
POPE PIUS XII<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Teaching Begins to Evolve<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Pope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\u201cIf bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means\u201d.<\/h5>\n
(Previous Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267)<\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Pope Benedict XVI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Pope Francis: The Teaching Changes<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\u201cthe death penalty is inadmissible\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n
Address, 11 October 2017<\/a><\/span><\/h5>\n
Why did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/h4>\n
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Why did Pope Francis Make this Change?<\/span><\/h4>\n
The Bottom Line<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
The death penalty is \u201cinadmissible\u201d in all cases.<\/span><\/h5>\n
\u201cIt is necessary\u2026to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\n
Pope Francis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>