The bishops of the state of Florida have written to the Governor to ask that the death penalty not be used against a man who killed a police officer. The killing took place in 1978. The letter speaks for itself but certainly echoes the teachings of the Church as enunciated by Blessed John Paul II.
The bottom line is the taking of a life by the state can only be reserved for those instances where the state would be unable to protect society from the convicted killer. Truly, this can be accomplished by the penal system. As Blessed John Paul II said when writing of the death penalty: in countries like the USA, the use of the death penalty should be rare, if at all.
And please note: those who oppose the death penalty based on current Church teaching and as a pro-life affirmation do not condone the actions of the guilty party. And in no way do these same folks, me included, mean in anyway to diminish the tragedy of the innocent life lost and those who mourn.
The letter is below:
http://www.flacathconf.org/newsreleases/110823ValleExecution.pdf
Thanks to Deacon's Bench!
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