Pope Francis calls for abolishing death penalty and life imprisonment

catholicnews.com ^ | Oct-23-2014 | Francis X. Rocca

[TexasGator]

“Nothing new. The Catholic church has opposed the death penalty for as long as I remember.”

.....

“The pope said criminal penalties should not apply to children, and should be waived or limited for the elderly, who “on the basis of their very errors can offer lessons to the rest of society. We don’t learn only from the virtues of saints but also from the failings and errors of sinners.”

[dfwgator]

Many countries do not have life imprisonment. Mexico, for example, is 30 years maximum.

Yeah, now there's a country I want to emulate. /s

[morphing libertarian]

good deal. kill your family when you’re 18 and walk around free from 48 tip you die of old age.

What is moral about letting someone who takes an innocent life not forfeit their own?

[thorvaldr]

Only a guy with a 24 hour armed guard would think it’s wrong to not let murderers back out on the street.

[morphing libertarian]

till you die

[Alex Murphy]

Pope Francis called for abolition of the death penalty as well as life imprisonment, and denounced what he called a "penal populism" that promises to solve society's problems by punishing crime instead of pursuing social justice. "It is impossible to imagine that states today cannot make use of another means than capital punishment to defend peoples' lives from an unjust aggressor," the pope said Oct. 23 in a meeting with representatives of the International Association of Penal Law. "All Christians and people of good will are thus called today to struggle not only for abolition of the death penalty, whether it be legal or illegal and in all its forms, but also to improve prison conditions, out of respect for the human dignity of persons deprived of their liberty. And this, I connect with life imprisonment," he said. "Life imprisonment is a hidden death penalty." The pope noted that the Vatican recently eliminated life inprisonment from its own penal code.

In Before The Pope Was Mistranslated Again

[TexasGator]

“Many countries do not have life imprisonment. Mexico, for example, is 30 years maximum. “

You should be sure of your facts before posting.

[tennmountainman]

Maybe The Pope can shelter killers at the Vatican, especially serial
killers. All they need is a little understanding.

[hal ogen]

Yes...send all the “fallen” to live in the country of Vatican City.

[thorvaldr]

“Many countries do not have life imprisonment. Mexico, for example, is 30 years maximum.”

Since when did we start holding up Mexico as an example of how a country SHOULD be run?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Yep. Catholic Church has not supported the Death Penalty for a long time. Although the fubared headline makes it appear that they want to do away with life sentences as well.

[RightGeek]

I wonder if the pope has met any serial killers?

[mountainlion]

Neutering and lobotomy should be considered.

[Tax-chick]

It’s possible that Pope Francis made comments regarding life sentences, but I’m not going to dig for the kernel of truth in the everylasting media hogwash.

The Catholic Church doesn’t like death penalties. I understand that: once you’re dead, you can’t repent. The prudential issues regarding protecting the innocent from criminals are complex. Personally, I’m a supporter of the quick firing squad for people like Major Nidal Hassan, no question he shot a dozen or so American soldiers and would kill more if he could. Pope Francis might be, as well, if one went one on one with him and the details.

[miss marmelstein]

And yet, in my parish at St. Agnes in NYC, some of the priests endorse the death penalty. But St. Agnes is known for its intellectual vigor.

[FredZarguna]

And that's working so well...

[Tax-chick]

I think it’s arguable, but it’s silly to pretend Pope Francis originated the issue.

[Mark17]

Hey Charlie Manson, the Pope is your guy!

Actually, I believe it was Rose Bird who got that dubious distinction. Thankfully, she assumed room temperature some years ago. When I saw Charlie, I was tempted to ask him who he was getting mail from, but I restrained myself.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I can see the headline tomorrow: “Pope calls for criminals to be castrated and exiled.”

[miss marmelstein]

LOL! Yes, Mexico, the country that has drug lords who disembowel people. And is keeping one of our marines prisoner for no good reason.