OFFICIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY

Pope John Paul II

"On this matter [of the death penalty] there is a growing tendency, both in the Church and in civil society, to demand that it be applied in a very limited way or even that it be abolished completely ... the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however ... such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent."

Evangelium Vitae, 1995

"The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made most recently at Christmas for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary."

January 27, 1999, St. Louis, Missouri U.S.

 

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