The Vatican said Francis had approved a change to the Catechism of the Catholic Church — the compilation of official Catholic teaching. Previously, the catechism said the church didn't exclude recourse to capital punishment "if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor."
The new teaching, contained in Catechism No. 2267, says the previous policy is outdated, that there are other ways to protect the common good, and that the church should instead commit itself to working to end capital punishment.

"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," reads the new text, which was approved in May but only published Thursday.

The death penalty has been abolished in most of Europe and South America, but it is still in use in the United States and in several countries in Asia, Africa and the Mideast. In addition, just this week Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey could soon move to reinstate the death penalty, which it had abolished in 2004 as part of its bid to join the European Union.

In an accompanying letter explaining the change, the head of the Vatican's doctrine office said the development of Catholic doctrine on capital punishment didn't contradict prior teaching but rather was an evolution of it.

"If, in fact the political and social situation of the past made the death penalty an acceptable means for the protection of the common good, today the increasing understanding that the dignity of a person is not lost even after committing the most serious crimes," said Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Ladaria said the new change aims to "give energy" to the anti-death penalty movement "and, in respectful dialogue with civil authorities, to encourage the creation of conditions that allow for the elimination of the death penalty where it is still in effect."

Francis has long railed against the death penalty, insisting it can never be justified, no matter how heinous the crime. He has also long made prison ministry a mainstay of his vocation. On nearly every foreign trip, Francis has visited with inmates to offer words of solidarity and hope, and he still stays in touch with a group of Argentine inmates he ministered to during his years as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He announced his intention to change church teaching on capital punishment last October, when he marked the 25th anniversary of the publication of the catechism by announcing his intention to update it. The catechism, first promulgated by St. John Paul II, gives Catholics an easy, go-to guide for church teaching on everything from the sacraments to sex.

At that 2017 ceremony, Francis said the death penalty violates the Gospel and amounts to the voluntary killing of a human life, which "is always sacred in the eyes of the creator." He acknowledged that in the past even the Papal States had allowed this "extreme and inhuman recourse." But he said the Holy See had erred in allowing a mentality that was "more legalistic than Christian" and now knew better.

Amnesty International, which has long campaigned for a worldwide ban on the death penalty, welcomed the development as an "important step forward." "Already in the past, the church had expressed its aversion to the death penalty, but with words that did not exclude ambiguities," said Riccardo Noury, Amnesty Italia spokesman. "Today they are saying it in an even clearer way."

In addition, he praised the clear indication of the church's commitment to the cause beyond doctrine. "There seems to be also a desire to see the Catholic Church take an active role in the global abolitionist movement," he added.

AP writer Simone Somekh contributed.

Source:
https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/8649736-pope-changes-death-penalty-teaching-inadmissible.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1

Why should death penalty be abolished ? This does not make sense at all!

"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," the Vatican said.

"Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes."

Prior to the change, the Church was not opposed to capital punishment "if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor."

The change was enacted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department responsible for defending Catholic teaching, and is contained in the universal catechism, a summary of the Church’s teaching on sexual, social and moral issues.

But it could face trenchant opposition from some Catholics, particularly conservatives in the US, who support the death penalty.

The Vatican said it would “work with determination” to help bring about an end to capital punishment in every country in the world.

Pope Francis, who often visits prisoners in jail on his trips abroad, has long been opposed to the death penalty, even for the worst crimes.

Last year he said that human life "is always sacred in the eyes of the creator."

He acknowledged that in past centuries the Papal States had used the death penalty, saying that was a mistake.

He argued that executing criminals was “cruel, inhumane and degrading” and that there was always the risk of “judicial errors” leading to innocent people being killed.

The change in Catholic doctrine builds on pronouncements made by Pope John Paul II, who repeatedly called for the death penalty to be abolished.

He said it was not justifiable “even for someone who has done great evil”. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, made similar appeals.

Pope Francis’s decision was welcomed by Amnesty International as an "important step forward."

Shelumiel:
Why should death penalty be abolished ? This does not make sense at all!

it should be abolished because it is against the dignity of the human person, it was allowed in extreme cases where the common good demanded it, in most places that condition no longer exists hence more humane ways are encouraged to punish a criminal

Ubenedictus:
it should be abolished because it is against the dignity of the human person, it was allowed in extreme cases where the common good demanded it, in most places that condition no longer exists hence more humane ways are encouraged to punish a criminal

What about the victims and their families who are seeking justice ? Do you know that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to so that those in society are not encouraged to do such? Please rethink on this

baba I don't support this one ooo. some people are so heartless, the density of crimes they commits deserve something more than just death sentence.
if anyone doesn't want his human dignity to be violated, he should be law abiding

Nigeria should impose the death penalty for corruption; all corrupt politicians should be killed

Shelumiel:
What about the victims and their families who are seeking justice ? Do you know that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to so that those in society are not encouraged to do such? Please rethink on this

a good question is: are they really asking for justice or revenge? Justice for a criminal usually has 3 aims 1. punishment, 2. correction/rehabilitation 3. deterrence.


the death penalty is ofcource deterrence and punishment but it sadly does not offer hope for correction, it takes away from the criminal the opportunity to make reparations for his crimes.... we are not God we are mere men, we don't judge perfectly.... in fact sometimes the guilty go scot free and the innocent are framed and murdered by government approved death penalty.


We are not God we don't know every thing about any body or the mitigating circumstances, we are not qualified to be the deciders of other peoples life or death verdict.

a long prison term is deterrence, we don't need to kill people who we can't create.


let God have the death verdict.

McCoy662:
baba I don't support this one ooo. some people are so heartless, the density of crimes they commits deserve something more than just death sentence.
if anyone doesn't want his human dignity to be violated, he should be law abiding

do you think there is something that can be committed by man that will completely erase his identity? is there something I will do that the image of God in which I am created will be erased?


no matter the crime, a human being is a human being and possesses that human dignity.

Ubenedictus:
a good question is: are they really asking for justice or revenge? Justice for a criminal usually has 3 aims 1. punishment, 2. correction/rehabilitation 3. deterrence.


the death penalty is ofcource deterrence and punishment but it sadly does not offer hope for correction, it takes away from the criminal the opportunity to make reparations for his crimes.... we are not God we are mere men, we don't judge perfectly.... in fact sometimes the guilty go scot free and the innocent are framed and murdered by government approved death penalty.


We are not God we don't know every thing about any body or the mitigating circumstances, we are not qualified to be the deciders of other peoples life or death verdict.

a long prison term is deterrence, we don't need to kill people who we can't create.


let God have the death verdict.

The death sentence was established by God Himself(Leviticus24:17). Think of it this way : if the death penalty were abolished and murderers were given life in imprisonment, wouldn't groups like Bokoharam continue to increase in number since they know that the worst that would happen would be a life sentence on taxpayers money.

Shelumiel:
The death sentence was established by God Himself(Leviticus24:17). Think of it this way : if the death penalty were abolished and murderers were given life in imprisonment, wouldn't groups like Bokoharam continue to increase in number since they know that the worst that would happen would be a life sentence on taxpayers money.

stoning the adulterous was also established by God himself, we known how that panned out.



you think boko haram likes prison?

Ubenedictus:
stoning the adulterous was also established by God himself, we known how that panned out.



you think boko haram likes prison?

Brother , a Jihadi is happy in prison knowing his desires having been fulfilled.

it is becoming more clear that the Roman Catholic cult will usher in the beast. Jesus is coming Soon

Shelumiel:
Brother , a Jihadi is happy in prison knowing his desires having been fulfilled.

a jihadi is also happy to die and meet up 70 virgins in Paradise.....those are fanatics

solite3:
it is becoming more clear that the Roman Catholic cult will usher in the beast.
Jesus is coming Soon

seriously? so death penalty equals this silliness above?

Ubenedictus:
seriously? so death penalty equals this silliness above?

the Roman Catholic cult is playing her role as the passage way for the antichrist, learn the true origin of the Roman Catholic church.
the Roman cult is using interfaith abomination in preparation for one world religion, that is why the Roman cult is trying to make Islam a harmless religion.

solite3:
the Roman Catholic cult is playing her role as the passage way for the antichrist, learn the true origin of the Roman Catholic church.
the Roman cult is user in interfaith abomination in preparation for one world religion, that is why the Roman cult is trying to make Islam a harmless religion.

Lol. U fool

Dnaz:

Lol. U fool

truth sound foolish just as atheist see those who believe in God as fools.
some day you will give account for this idle word

solite3:
truth sound foolish just as atheist see those who believe in God as fools.
some day you will give account for this idle word

U all also give account for the foolish comment and false witness against the Catholic Church

He who lives by the gin shall die by the gun. Personally I see nothing wrong with the death penalty.

solite3:
the Roman Catholic cult is playing her role as the passage way for the antichrist, learn the true origin of the Roman Catholic church.
the Roman cult is using interfaith abomination in preparation for one world religion, that is why the Roman cult is trying to make Islam a harmless religion.

you are the one who seem ignorant, of course the Bible says my people die for lack of knowledge.

the origin of the Catholic church is Christ and the Apostles, she is the church that traces her origin back to the Pentecost...


interfaith dialogue is not one world religion, don't confuse both, dialogue is meant to obey the words of scripture "follow peace with all men". one world religion is only possible if the whole world converts to Christ, that is not possible so instead we work for peace.