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Catholic teaching on capital punishment is quite clear: If non-lethal means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, authority will limit itself to such means, as they are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267).
Our Church fully believes that those who commit terrible violent crimes must be incarcerated, both as just punishment and in order to protect society. We stand in solidarity with victims and their loved ones. However, when it comes to matters of life and death, morality and common sense call for justice and careful safeguards.
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Catholic Teaching
"The Church's commitment to the value and dignity of human life leads us to oppose the use of the death penalty. We believe that a return to the use of the death penalty is further eroding respect for life in our society. We do not question society's right to protect itself, but we believe that there are better approaches to protecting our people from violent crimes. The application of the death penalty has been discriminatory toward the poor, the indigent, and racial minorities. Our society should reject the death penalty and seek methods of dealing with violent crime that are more consistent with the gospel visions of respect for life and Christ's message of healing love." US Catholic Conference of Bishops
"The primary purpose of the punishment which society inflicts is "to redress the disorder caused by the offence". Public authority must redress the violation of personal and social rights by imposing on the offender an adequate punishment for the crime, as a condition for the offender to regain the exercise of his or her freedom. In this way authority also fulfills the purpose of defending public order and ensuring people's safety, while at the same time offering the offender an incentive and help to change his or her behaviour and be rehabilitated." Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II
"Among the signs of hope we should also count the spread, at many levels of public opinion, of a new sensitivity ever more opposed to war as an instrument for the resolution of conflicts between peoples, and increasingly oriented to finding effective but "non-violent" means to counter the armed aggressor. In the same perspective there is evidence of a growing public opposition to the death penalty, even when such a penalty is seen as a kind of "legitimate defense" on the part of society. Modern society in fact has the means of effectively suppressing crime by rendering criminals harmless without definitively denying them the chance to reform." Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II
Catholic teaching on capital punishment is quite clear: If non-lethal means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, authority will limit itself to such means, as they are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267).
Bishops' Speak
Click the links below to read testimony from Texas' Bishops regarding the Death Penalty
Other Resources
RestoreJustice.com
Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice
Catholic Campaign to End Use of the Death Penalty Brochure (USCCB)
A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death
USCCB statements on the Death Penalty
Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Pope John Paul II
Declaration of the Holy See to the First World Congress on the Death Penalty
Purchase additional resources for USCCB here
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Pray
A Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty
By Sister Helen Prejean
You have said when two or more agree on something and
is asked in the name of Jesus this will be granted.
We come to You asking for
the immediate abolition of death penalty in the USA.
We pray for those on death row, so they might keep the faith and the
strength to live to the day this abomination is abolished.
We pray for those who have lost their lives due to this barbaric practice
and now are in the loving presence of God.
For their families, so they may never doubt the Resurrection
of those they loved and lost in such a hideous way.
We also pray for the supporters of death penalty
and also for those directly involved with the application of it,
so they may get an insight of how precious a human life is
and will be deterred from harming it, which ultimately belongs to God.
We pray for those in positions of influence, civil or religious,
that they might gain an open mind and a forgiving heart.
We give thanks for all those who are actively involved in this cause,
those who have opened their minds and hearts
to an alternative to death penalty.
Thank You also for those who will join this cause in the future
and go forth to victory.
This is the time of victory, because You, Father,
are timeless and for You future is already present.
Praised be Your Holy Name.
Amen.
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Vigil Click here for sample prayer vigil.
Bulletin Quotes
Prayers of the Faithful/Intercessions
(from the Archdiocese of Detroit)
We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer
We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer
We pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer For our social order, that it may show love, mercy, justice and peace. Lord hear our prayer
For all elected officials, that they may govern with compassion. Lord hear our prayer
For all prisons, that they may be places of restoration & healing. Lord hear our prayer
For all prison employees, that they may respect prisoners as fellow human beings. Lord hear our prayer
For all prisoners, that they may have the courage not to become embittered or hopeless. Lord hear our prayer
For all on death row, that their lives may be spared and that they may walk in newness of life. Lord hear our prayer
That all may be saved from cruel & unusual punishment. Lord hear our prayer
That the death penalty may be seen as incompatible with the dignity and self-respect of persons, and be abolished.
Lord hear our prayer
Act
Advocate
Criminal Justice Reform is one of the TCC legislative priorities. We support fiscal and moral reform in our state's criminal justice system with an emphasis on ending the death penalty and supporting successful rehabilitation and reintegration for those re-entering society. To learn about Criminal Reform bills that TCC is supporting or opposing, visit our Criminal Reform issues page here.
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