(On the Death Penalty)
I stated in a recent expository musing on the death penalty and Pope Francis' changes to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) the following words:
As far as capital punishment goes, there have been some developments sure but there has also been agenda driven attempts to force the issue in ways that are both historically untenable as well as theologically problematical. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa August 21, 2018)]
What I had in mind there was many things but in the back of my mind was something that may be more evident when one looks at the sorts of rare exceptions I have in mind for recourse to the death penalty. To wit:
I can think of a few categories of people who could legitimately circumvent the rubric of mandatory non-bloodless means. Those people are (i) convicted multiple or serial murders, (ii) drug dealers convicted on multiple charges who targeted children, (iii) sexual pedophiles convicted of multiple crimes of pedophilia, (iv) pornographers convicted on multiple charges who targeted children, (v) anyone who engages in or directs violations in the aforementioned areas who is already in prison...
Those who are convicted of drug dealing who have multiple charges of targeting children and convicted sexual pedophiles of multiple crimes of pedophilia are along the lines of my overriding principle of protecting the innocent. Children are the most innocent among us and those who would do this sort of damage to them in their most formative and vulnerable of years deserve the harshest punishment possible for their crimes as Our Lord made clear (Matt 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2). [Excerpts from Rerum Novarum (circa October 27, 2017)]
In short, I find in certain cases very much reason for admissibility of the death penalty and it just so happens to correspond in one area to recent news on the sex abuse front. I have to say that it is impossible for me to not view this latest CCC change as an attempt to cover the asses of prelates who deserve the worst possible punishments for what they did and/or allowed to be done and I am sure life imprisonment will soon be the next "affront to human dignity" coming from these folks as they attempt once again to skirt accountability. But I digress.
