Capital Punishment

Question 1

What is capital punishment?

Answer 1

.Death penalty

.Abolished in the UK in 1965 but still legal in many countries

Question 2

What is the Catholic view?

Answer 2

.It has traditionally allowed but not encouraged it

Question 3

What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say?

Answer 3

‘Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Catholic church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty’

Question 4

What does St Augustine say?

Answer 4

He emphasizes the need to seek other forms of punishment if at all possible

Question 5

What did Pope John Paul II say in Evangelium Vitae 56?

Answer 5

Capital punishment should be avoided unless it is the only way to defend society from the offender

Question 6

What does the NEW Catechism of the Catholic church say?

Answer 6

‘If 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’

Question 7

What is Pope Francis’ view?

Answer 7

.Against it
.No longer justifiable
.The wrong person could be killed

Question 8

What does Exodus say?

Answer 8

‘eye for eye’

Question 9

What does Jesus say?

Answer 9

‘You have heard that is was said “eye for eye” […] if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also’

Question 10

Give 4 religious arguments for capital punishment

Answer 10

.Jesus never explicitly said it was wrong
.The old testament teaches it should be used for some crimes
.St Paul says that people should respect and obey the laws of their country, which might include the death penalty
. The Catholic church hasn’t canceled its statement that allows it

Question 11

Give 4 religious arguments against capital punishment

Answer 11

. Jesus came to reform sinners, can’t do that if the sinner is dead
.’do not kill’
.Imago dei and sanctity of life
.St Augustine says to look for other forms if possible

Question 12

Give 2 non-religious arguments for capital punishment

Answer 12

.Only retribution for murder is death

.Good deterrent

Question 13

Give 2 non-religious arguments against capital punishment

Answer 13

.Life imprisonment is worse than death
.Can never be sure its the right person - cant bring them back to life if they’ve been killed for a crime they can’t commit