This is not murder. Murder is the unwarranted and unjust taking of thelife of
another. But it is not a sin against justice, or something undue,or murder, that
enemies of society should be put to death by the properauthority, especially
when their continued existence may be considered as aserious threat to the
common good.
I was rather shocked when I read this because I did not think that this was the view that the Catholic Church teaches. I thought, and have always been taught, that it did not matter what the situation was, we, as human beings, do have the power to place a death sentence because in doing that we are acting as God. Is this view that Fr. Murphy has really the correct teach of the Catholic Church? As an active member of the pro-life movement in the United States I was unaware of this.
I understand that the "dangerous criminals" "continued existence" may be a threat but is killing them really the only way to deal with it? And if the answer is yes, is it correct to say that this is not murder?
I think, whether it is the right or wrong thing to do (kill the criminal, that is) it is still murder and it is just another example of people trying to take the blame off themselves.
1 comment:
He's right that execution is not considered to be murder. The sovereign or state, because the care of the common good is entrusted to him/her/it, has the duty to protect the innocent, and for much of history that has included the grave duty of executing dangerous criminals. The insistence, however, of the Catechism and of the last several popes (esp JPII) is that if nonlethal means to protect the common good are sufficient, they (and not execution) should be used.
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