Christ the Cornerstone

Death penalty revision confirms all human life is sacred

“Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good. Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2267, revised).

On Aug. 2, 2018, Pope Francis approved a revision of paragraph #2267 (concerning capital punishment) in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This revision makes clear our Church’s opposition to capital punishment and our commitment to work for its abolition worldwide.

Previously, the catechism acknowledged the possibility that the death penalty might be necessary in extremely rare circumstances to defend human lives against an unjust aggressor. But it went on to say, “If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person ” (#2267).

The new language eliminates the possibility that capital punishment might be needed. Instead, it clearly states that “in the light of the Gospel, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2267, revised).

The fundamental teaching of the Church remains the same: All human life is sacred, and the unjust taking of a human life is never permissible. In cases of self-defense, or to save the life of someone who is in immediate danger of death, taking the life of another person is not considered unjust. In fact, it may be morally necessary. However, killing another person in self-defense does not change the principle that all human life is sacred. It simply acknowledges that when no other options are available, killing someone in self-defense (or to save the lives of others) may be necessary.

We used to view capital punishment in a similar light. Although all human life was recognized as sacred and inviolable, including the lives of the most heinous criminals, the traditional teaching of the Church did not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this was seen as the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against an unjust aggressor. What’s changed is the new perspective on safeguarding human society against even the most dangerous criminals. As the catechism’s new paragraph states:

“Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2267, revised).

In today’s world, capital punishment is not necessary. Therefore, it is not a legitimate option for defending human lives. Like all other forms of unjust aggression against human life (for example, abortion, euthanasia and unjust war), capital punishment should be abolished worldwide.

Pope Francis’ teaching on capital punishment follows the teaching of his predecessors. St. John Paul II reminded us that “not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this.” Pope Benedict XVI urged the world’s leaders “to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty.”

Simply put, capital punishment is no longer needed or morally justified as a means to safeguard human life. Like other aspects of the Church’s teaching on the dignity and inviolability of human life, this refinement of Catholic moral teaching will not be universally understood or accepted. That’s because it is a prophetic warning to the leaders of our society, and to all of us, that God alone is the Lord of Life.

Catholic teaching on the dignity and inviolability of human life is absolute and unchanging.

Let’s pray that human dignity will be affirmed and protected always. †