51 replies to this topic

[Duff.]

We want the world to be safe for our children, but also just.

[pong]

We want the world to be safe for our children, but also just.

That just about nails my stance.

[More Drama]

And, as far as the death penalty is concerned, if it were up to me: if somebody committed a violent crime: I'd throw a rope over the nearest tree and hang them.

The Ox-Bow Incident

[pong]

And, as far as the death penalty is concerned, if it were up to me: if somebody committed a violent crime: I'd throw a rope over the nearest tree and hang them.

The Ox-Bow Incident

More Drama, I was only looking for More Drama with that post...

Too many not guilty people and too many crooked cops to be hanging anybody.

[M_Rots]

That's why Catholics can do both. In both cases, they don't feel obligated to play God.

And yet, as soon as you say either the death penalty or abortion is always wrong, that is exactly what you're doing.

[Duff.]

Gonna need to expound on that one.

[dice]

Most of the Catholic Church is pro-life and anti-death penalty. See: Catholic Social Teachings, and Dorothy Day.

I'm down with that.

except for being pro-death penalty, right?

[pong]

This thread is sorely lacking Paul Edward Wagemann.

[Kate]

as a staunch pro-choicer, can we please stop with the fallacy of saying that being pro-life and pro-death penalty should somehow be impossible. it is possible to believe that their is a sanctity of innocent "life" that cannot protect itself and also believe that people can forfeit the sanctity of their own life by committing heinous crimes.

stupid, stupid argument.

It's not a stupid argument. The 4th (4th?) Commandment states "Thou Shalt Not Kill."
It's not "Thou Shalt Not Kill*"

*except for really bad people.

[M_Rots]

as a staunch pro-choicer, can we please stop with the fallacy of saying that being pro-life and pro-death penalty should somehow be impossible. it is possible to believe that their is a sanctity of innocent "life" that cannot protect itself and also believe that people can forfeit the sanctity of their own life by committing heinous crimes.

stupid, stupid argument.

It's not a stupid argument. The 4th (4th?) Commandment states "Thou Shalt Not Kill."
It's not "Thou Shalt Not Kill*"

*except for really bad people.

Given that many Christian sects make a huge exception for wars, rationalizing that somehow killing on the battlefield is not the same as premeditated murder, I call bullshit and say we're back to the stupid, stupid argument.

[Fender]

Mitchell asked -- How does the Catholic Church feel about the likes of Paul Jennings Hill? ( He killled an doctor who performs abortions to try to stop abortions ) -- From my understanding of Catholic theology, I'd say that murder is never acceptable, no matter how someone would try to justify it. Velocity asked-- How many postcards to abolish the death penalty is the Catholic Church sending out -??( like they are related to FOCA )--I think that if the circumstances were analogous, then it's possible -- for example -- if there was a bill on the horizon which required the death penalty to be used in all states -- taxpayer funded---- and after conviction the convict wouldn't have any chance to appeal their case -- possibly.. Particle Hustler said that in sermons he's heard references to the "sanctity of life", but they were benign and indirect references -- In my church the sanctity of life belief is seen as being very profound and direct in how we are to treat each other in everyday life, and how we're required to value and protect life in all of it's stages of development until natural death.

[Duff.]

Velocity asked-- How many postcards to abolish the death penalty is the Catholic Church sending out -??( like they are related to FOCA )--I think that if the circumstances were analogous, then it's possible -- for example -- if there was a bill on the horizon which required the death penalty to be used in all states -- taxpayer funded---- and after conviction the convict wouldn't have any chance to appeal their case -- possibly..

Hold on here. Why on earth would the Catholic Church be interested in states' rights, the use of tax dollars, and the appeal process? The church is against the death penalty (um, always taxpayer funded, by the way), regardless of how it's carried out, and where.