Considerations on the Death Penalty
Life is a gift. As we read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being” (2258, this entire paragraph is a quote from Donum Vitae, 5, my emphasis).
Yet, life is often not respected today. When the Catholic Church speaks on life issues, it is most often on abortion because innocent life is shed. Assisted suicide comes in second as it is supposed to be the person making the decision for themselves to end their life. The death penalty often takes a distant third in these three issues because, although mistakes have been made, it is normally a guilty person being killed (see my articles “Being Pro-life is About Much More Than Just Abortion” and “Towards a Culture of Life” for more on the breadth of life issues).
In all three, the Fifth Commandment, thou shall not kill is violated. Murder is a sin that cries out to Heaven. The first murder in the Bible is the murder of Abel by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:1-16). Thousands of years later we continue to struggle with murder.
Since I wrote the two articles mentioned above in January, in the back of my mind I have been wondering if I should write something on the death penalty. There have been several criminals executed in recent months, yet I did not feel called to write on any one of them specifically. Now, I have discerned that the time has come.
Why? Because of what I watched in the news recently. A plea deal was announced for a man accused of killing four women in Idaho. (He has since plead guilty with an agreement for life without parole instead of the death penalty.) Plea deals are not uncommon. What caught my attention is when a family member of one of the victims was seen on camera saying the prosecutors were wrong for accepting the plea deal. He wanted to see the case go to full trial and for the murderer to receive the death penalty.
Without a doubt, the families of the four victims have faced a tremendous amount of pain. It is pain that they may deal with for years to come. We need to pray for them.
The family member’s statement led me to reflect on whether the death penalty is justice or revenge. Justice involves logic while revenge is an emotional response.
Logically, the prosecutors made a decision that avoids the financial costs of a trial and likely appeals that can go on for years. There is also logic as well as compassion in saving the victims’ families the emotional pain of testifying and dragging the pain out in years of appeals.
Some people think that if they can see the person who murdered their loved one executed, it will bring them peace. Seen in this light, they interpret the death penalty as justice. Unfortunately, the execution of the murderer often does not bring the closure desired for the family. It does not undo the death of their loved one. Nothing on earth can.
When I discerned that the Holy Spirit says it is time to write on the death penalty, I began to look at Catholic resources for material. I did so in anticipation of writing an instructional document on our Catholic understanding of the death penalty.
The Holy Spirit had other ideas. The Holy Spirit knows the emotional pain of the families. The Holy Spirit knows if the criminal feels guilt and remorse. I have felt led by the Holy Spirit to write letters rather than an instructional document. A letter can provide compassion in a way that an instructional document may not.
The first letter is a hypothetical letter to the families of the victims offering them comfort and understanding, not of why their family members were killed but rather of how God calls us to respond to the killings in light of the pain and sin that is real.
The second letter is also a hypothetical letter. This one is to the killer inviting them to reflect on their guilt and to seek to lead him/her to conversion made possible by the mercy of our Lord on the Cross. Heaven is only possible for those who repent. Hell is a reality for those who sin and show no remorse or conversion (for more on who makes it into Heaven, please see my recent article, “Proof That Hell Exists”). Mindful of Jesus’ words to the repentant criminal crucified with him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus offers mercy everyone. He says to us, “I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (Luke 15:7).
Please remember these letters are hypothetical. If you know the family of a murder victim or have recourse to write the murderer, do not send them these letters as is. The letters are food for thought but each situation is different. The only certainty is that both the families and the murderer need God. The pain and guilt need time to begin healing. One needs to prayerfully consider how and when (perhaps in stages) to convey the content of these letters to the recipients. The content of these letters is an opportunity to reflect, not to condemn the killer or validate the families’ feelings.
If you are interested in more formal instruction on our Catholic teaching regarding the death penalty, I point you to my series, Treating Life with Dignity and Love. Part 1 begins with a discussion on the dignity of human life. Part 2, after beginning with abortion, discusses the death penalty.
Here are the letters, “A Letter to a Victim’s Family,” and “A Letter to a Killer.”
Peace,
Fr. Jeff