Is the Death Penalty Morally Equal to Abortions? US Bishops Preach Politics Rather than the Gospel Truth12/16/2003 8:49:00 PM By Dr. Brian Kopp - CCI NEWS SERVICE Bishop John H. Ricard: Abortion, death penalty... What's the difference? Doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas: "If a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good, since 'a little leaven corrupteth the whole lump' (I Cor. 5:6)" During the recent U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ fall general meeting, the...