re on capital punishment gt b prism gatech edu randal lee nicholas mandock writes regarding the new draft of the universal catechism in procuring the common good of society the need could arise that the aggressor be placed in the position where he cannot cause harm by virtue of this the right and obligation of public authorities to punish with proportionate penalties including the death penalty is acknowledged to the degree that means other than the death penalty and military operations are sufficient to keep the peace then these non violent provisions are to be preferred because they are more in proportion and in keeping with the final goal of protection of peace and human dignity exactly read that one sentence in there to the degree that means other than the death penalty and military operations are sufficient to keep the peace then these non violent provisions are to be preferred i don t believe that it is necessary for us to murder criminals to keep the peace the church in the united states feels the same way thus the reason that the catholic church has opposed every execution in this country in recent memory as is clearly shown by this excerpt the church s teaching on capital punishment remains today as it has always been in the past in total accord with my sentiment that i do not disagree with the use of deadly force in those cases for which this option is justifiable so what is justifiable as you stated very explicitly from the new catechism the only justifiable case is when it is necessary to keep the peace since that does not apply at all to this country the logical conclusion based on your own premises is that one must be opposed to any form of capital punishment in america just my opinions mike walker univ of illinois
