How much should our thinking about the death penalty be viewed through the lens of poverty?
As you mentioned, poor people do not have equal access to the highest levels of defense, and the majority of people who commit/prosecuted violent crimes are poor.
I guess for me, should we think about the consequences of the death penalty strictly from the poverty perspective.
Our Lord was executed in a similar manner.
Also, Mike, I want to take a minute to thank you for your ongoing work. I appreciate the education you have provided me over the years.
- The Holy Father's characterization of the death penalty, in the catechism and "Fratelli Tutti" as "inadmissible" is anything but a "comprehensive moral analysis". There is no well articulated reasoning, as usually expressed in magisterial teaching, to back this up. Nothing has really changed since Pope St John Paul II's treatment of the death penalty in "Evangelium Vitae" which opposed the death penalty on prudential grounds, as not necessary in modern times to ensure the safety of the public, rather than as intrinsically evil.
- Many of the issues with the death penalty as applied in the US, are more fundamental issues of fairness with the criminal justice system, which will need to be addressed even if the death penalty is abolished.
How much should our thinking about the death penalty be viewed through the lens of poverty?
As you mentioned, poor people do not have equal access to the highest levels of defense, and the majority of people who commit/prosecuted violent crimes are poor.
I guess for me, should we think about the consequences of the death penalty strictly from the poverty perspective.
Our Lord was executed in a similar manner.
Also, Mike, I want to take a minute to thank you for your ongoing work. I appreciate the education you have provided me over the years.
Continued blessings.
Italy eliminated the death penalty in 1947, I believe. If the Pope wanted to make fuss about it, it was certainly close to home.
Permit me a couple of observations:
- The Holy Father's characterization of the death penalty, in the catechism and "Fratelli Tutti" as "inadmissible" is anything but a "comprehensive moral analysis". There is no well articulated reasoning, as usually expressed in magisterial teaching, to back this up. Nothing has really changed since Pope St John Paul II's treatment of the death penalty in "Evangelium Vitae" which opposed the death penalty on prudential grounds, as not necessary in modern times to ensure the safety of the public, rather than as intrinsically evil.
- Many of the issues with the death penalty as applied in the US, are more fundamental issues of fairness with the criminal justice system, which will need to be addressed even if the death penalty is abolished.