Statement
of
Cardinal
Roger Mahony
Archbishop
of Los Angeles and Chairman: Committee on Domestic
Policy
United
States Catholic Conference
and
Cardinal
William Keeler
Archbishop
of Baltimore and Chairman: Committee on Pro-Life
Activities
National
Conference of Catholic Bishopson
on
The
Approaching Execution of Timothy McVeigh
May
2, 2001
The
approaching execution of Timothy McVeigh surfaces memories of a
horrible crime. The bombing of the Murrah Federal Building and the
resulting tragic loss of 168 lives, including 19 little children,
haunts each of us. Nothing can diminish the horror. No one can
diminish the responsibility of those who committed this crime.
Yet,
this execution can only compound the violence. It will not bring
genuine healing or closure. It will not bring back to life those
who died. It will be just one more killing. McVeigh, on the other
hand, apparently will get what he wants--more attention and
notoriety.
This
first federal execution in 38 years is not just about Timothy
McVeigh. It is not even primarily about him. Rather, it is about
every man, woman and child in the United States. For when the
federal government executes Timothy McVeigh, it will do so in our
name.As pastors, we strongly believe that the use of the death
penalty diminishes us as human beings. We recall the words of the
poet who explained that "No man is an island, entire of it
self" and that therefore "any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind." How much more so are we
diminished when a man is killed on our behalf.
Some
believe that Timothy McVeigh's execution will serve justice. But
how can more violence and killing-state-sanctioned or otherwise-
serve justice? With Timothy McVeigh's execution we add to our
culture of death. The Holy Father has urged all people of good
will to replace this culture with a culture of life. But a culture
of life rests on the foundational principle that are all created
in God's image. We are called to uphold the life and dignity of
every human being at all times including the lives of those justly
convicted of horrible crimes.Furthermore, as Pope John Paul II
reminds us, because modern societies can defend human life against
convicted killers without resorting to capital punishment, it
should restrict itself to those means. Such non-violent measures
can give the offender time to repent of his or her crime and allow
the possibility of receiving God's grace.
We
will continue to pray for all those hurt by this terrible crime,
especially the families of those who died, and for the family of
Timothy McVeigh.
__________________________________
Office
of Social Development & World PeaceNational Conference of
Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference3211 4th Street,
N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000May 02, 2001
Copyright � by United States Catholic Conference
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