Campaigners welcome Catholic Church's new teaching on death penalty

Source: CMN/Sant'Egidio/PRC

Campaigners around the world are welcoming the news that Pope Francis has approved a revision to the Catechism of the Catholic Church which makes the death penalty completely inadmissible.

Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), the American Catholic organisation working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice, welcomed the revision with the following statement: "Today is a capstone teaching moment for the Catholic Church. For people in the pews, it is a challenge to actively build a culture of life by abolishing the death penalty, especially in the 31 states that still have it on the books in this country," stated Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of CMN.

Catholics have been encouraged by Papal and Church authority to seek abolition of the death penalty for over 20 years. When visiting St Louis in 1999, Pope John Paul II called the death penalty "cruel" and "unnecessary." The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty in 2005, which ultimately led to the formation of CMN. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI renewed Pope John Paul II's appeal to end the death penalty, and in his historic speech before the US Congress in September of 2015, Pope Francis called for a global abolition of capital punishment.

"In addition to papal proclamations, Catholic bishops in every state that has the death penalty have taken stands to see an end to this practice. Today's action further clarifies any remaining ambiguity about the Church's teaching against the death penalty and strengthens the global resolve to bring an end to this practice," asserted Vaillancourt Murphy.

In the backdrop of today's announcement, over 2800 people sit on death row in the United States. Fourteen executions are scheduled for the remainder of 2018, including three this month alone. Vaillancourt Murphy added, "These upcoming executions are a stark reminder that the death penalty is active in the United States, and it violates our commitment to the dignity of all life. The death penalty is a failed practice that perpetuates the cycle of violence and disproportionately targets marginalized populations, especially people of color, those living in poverty, and people suffering with mental illness."

As CMN celebrates this declaration honouring the dignity of all life, it especially holds in prayer all those who have been victims of or impacted by grave harm. Longtime Catholic anti-death penalty advocate Vicki Schieber, whose daughter Shannon was murdered in 1998, rejoiced upon hearing this morning's news: "I was ecstatic because it is so important that victims' families have strong support from our faith leaders to end the death penalty. Shannon's birthday is in six days, and I have no doubt that she is smiling from ear to ear saying, 'Go Mom! Let's get it done!'"

This revision affirms that every person, no matter the harm they have suffered or caused, has God-given dignity. May this call from the Catholic Church invigorate efforts to end the death penalty and promote more restorative approaches to harm.

For more information about Catholic Mobilizing Network or to sign the National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty (#Pledge4Mercy), please visit www.catholicsmobilizing.org."

Mario Marazziti, coordinator of the global anti-death penalty campaign of the Community of Sant'Egidio based in Rome, said Pope Francis had shifted the church's teachings from "the practical opposition" of the old catechism, which acknowledged the church's historical acceptance of the death penalty, to "absolute rejection," which "becomes a normal part of teaching and commitment on the part of the faithful."

"It becomes binding for bishops, defence of life from the initial state through all its phases to the very end, even for those who are guilty. If you don't accept this, you are disobedient, as you would be if you didn't accept other teachings. There is no margin for disagreement," he said.

Sister Helen Prejean, whose advocacy for prisoners on death row was portrayed by Susan Sarandon in the film 'Dead Man Walking' said: "It's a happy day, I'm clicking my heels. What I'm particularly delighted about is there's no loopholes, it's unconditional." But she added: "This is just a change in the doctrine and it's on paper. We've still got to move it into the pews and make it active."

Since WWII there has been a trend towards abolishing capital punishment around the world, but 56 countries retain the death penalty, notably China, South Korea and most Islamic States. The United States is the only Western country to still use capital punishment.

According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Centre this spring, a majority of American Catholics favour capital punishment, (53 percent) while 42 percent oppose it, Among Americans as a whole, 54 percent are in favour and 39 percent opposed.

See also: ICN 2 August 2018 - Pope Francis says death penalty always inadmissible www.indcatholicnews.com/news/35379