Cardinal
Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia and the 16 other
Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania have issued a document that
restates their opposition to the use of the death penalty in
Pennsylvania. The statement, "The death penalty: choose
life", clarifies their reasons for their opposition to
capital punishment."Increasing reliance on the death
penalty", says the statement, "diminishes all of us and
is a sign of growing disrespect for human life. We cannot overcome
crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives
of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their
murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion that we can
defend life by taking life." "The Catholic Church
remains steadfast in its defense of life. While punishment for
convicted criminals is just, vengeance is never a Christian or
human rationale for inflicting the death penalty," said
Cardinal Bevilacqua, commenting the document. "The Church
believes that even the worst offenders possess the potential to
reform their lives and make a positive contribution to
society." (source: EWTN News)
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