The Church is in a grave crisis - a crisis of faith and the belief in the Real Presence, a crisis of vocations, education and family life and our Pope erring involves himself in an American election whilst shunning the Italian, propagates a lie about contraception and nuns and now tells us once again that we must stamp out capital punishment.
He states that the Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" includes the "innocent and guilty" and that even criminals "maintain the inviolable right to life, the gift of God."
The Commandment refers to wilful murder. I have the right to kill any man to defend myself or my wife, if that is what is necessary. A nation, after proper jurisprudence, has a right to execute a man if the crime and the decision of the State deems it necessary and appropriate. The Catholic Church has always upheld this and the Catechism of the Catholic Church states it.
Nothing can focus the mind more on ones sins and prospect of an eternity in Hell as knowing the exact time of ones death. How many might actually repent and convert knowing that tomorrow is the day rather than living old in prison and dying unrepentant in ones sleep?
It can be argued that it is not necessary; that is a different debate. Yet, if one says that if we can lock up a notorious murderer, rapist or child molester for life (rarely in Canada, perhaps Clifford Olson and Paul Bernardo or the pig-farmer from B.C. might be exceptions), then that should be fine. But we don't! The man who chopped off the head of another on a bus in Saskatchewan is free today from his crime of less than a decade ago because he was not "criminally responsible." For Francis, any punishment is too much punishment.
Mercy for the criminal, none for the victim.
The Pope has also stated that a "life sentence is like a death sentence."
It is up to us to protect society. it is up to God to show mercy.
He states that the Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" includes the "innocent and guilty" and that even criminals "maintain the inviolable right to life, the gift of God."
The Commandment refers to wilful murder. I have the right to kill any man to defend myself or my wife, if that is what is necessary. A nation, after proper jurisprudence, has a right to execute a man if the crime and the decision of the State deems it necessary and appropriate. The Catholic Church has always upheld this and the Catechism of the Catholic Church states it.
Nothing can focus the mind more on ones sins and prospect of an eternity in Hell as knowing the exact time of ones death. How many might actually repent and convert knowing that tomorrow is the day rather than living old in prison and dying unrepentant in ones sleep?
It can be argued that it is not necessary; that is a different debate. Yet, if one says that if we can lock up a notorious murderer, rapist or child molester for life (rarely in Canada, perhaps Clifford Olson and Paul Bernardo or the pig-farmer from B.C. might be exceptions), then that should be fine. But we don't! The man who chopped off the head of another on a bus in Saskatchewan is free today from his crime of less than a decade ago because he was not "criminally responsible." For Francis, any punishment is too much punishment.
Mercy for the criminal, none for the victim.
The Pope has also stated that a "life sentence is like a death sentence."
It is up to us to protect society. it is up to God to show mercy.