Tuesday, December 06, 2005
It is about time the faithful say "NO" to capital punishment...
MoJo is reporting Catholics are finally stepping up and saying "NO" to state-sanctioned killing. Unlike my Baptist brethren, culture of life Catholics are organizing and lobbying state legislators to abolish capital punishment.
In many states, sisters, priests and former clergy lead the abolitionist movement. In the bright red state of North Carolina, for example, a parish in Raleigh has taken the mantle and asked state legislators to stop the madness and pass a moratorium.
For the faithful, the culture of life must apply equally to the living as to an embryo.
Bible-thumping evangelicals like to quote from the Old Testament to justify the death penalty.
Last year's call to deny Kerry and other Catholics who support abortion rights the sacraments showed a lack of clarity and consistency for the fundamental rights of all living creatures, including death row inmates.
In recent correspondence, Denver archbishop Charles J. Chaput who had "urged parish priests to deny communion" recently stepped up and unequivocally stated his opposition to the death penalty, even if he did not call for "similar sanctions."
Hopefully, when the bishops meet "in November to draft their first statement against capital punishment in 25 years," they will be as forceful and as far-reaching as their crusade to outlaw abortions.
Imagine the threat of losing the sacraments; and what it would do for the abolition movement. Why I believe sooner rather than later states would ban the venal law!
MoJo is reporting Catholics are finally stepping up and saying "NO" to state-sanctioned killing. Unlike my Baptist brethren, culture of life Catholics are organizing and lobbying state legislators to abolish capital punishment.
In many states, sisters, priests and former clergy lead the abolitionist movement. In the bright red state of North Carolina, for example, a parish in Raleigh has taken the mantle and asked state legislators to stop the madness and pass a moratorium.
For the faithful, the culture of life must apply equally to the living as to an embryo.
Until his death last spring, [Pope John Paul II] argued to Catholics around the world that an end to the death penalty is an essential part of a “culture of life.”Yes, and although the pope also felt the culture of life included "birth control, stem-cell research, abortions, human cloning, and euthanasia," capital punishment and euthenasia are the only deeds that directly affect a human being, as defined by every nation in the world.
Bible-thumping evangelicals like to quote from the Old Testament to justify the death penalty.
Well, here is a little Bible verse from the New Testatement that should go a long way to give Brother Duke pause. Words from the Master:God himself instituted capital punishment as a remedy for certain crimes, at the very least murder,” says Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy and research for the Southern Baptist Convention. “All life is so sacred that anyone who takes it is required to pay the same penalty.”
A disciple asks Jesus how many times one should forgive before striking back.21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgiveIn other words, always.
my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"22Jesus answered, "I tell
you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Last year's call to deny Kerry and other Catholics who support abortion rights the sacraments showed a lack of clarity and consistency for the fundamental rights of all living creatures, including death row inmates.
In recent correspondence, Denver archbishop Charles J. Chaput who had "urged parish priests to deny communion" recently stepped up and unequivocally stated his opposition to the death penalty, even if he did not call for "similar sanctions."
Hopefully, when the bishops meet "in November to draft their first statement against capital punishment in 25 years," they will be as forceful and as far-reaching as their crusade to outlaw abortions.
Imagine the threat of losing the sacraments; and what it would do for the abolition movement. Why I believe sooner rather than later states would ban the venal law!
// posted by Howling Latina @ 1:02 PM 
