Letter: Death penalty premeditated killing
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rapists of children may not be executed is, to say the least, controversial.
On the radio one recent morning, more than 90 percent of those who called in thought the court ruling was wrong. Of course, the rape of a child is a heinous crime, but the real issue is the use of the death penalty itself.
The Catholic Church, as do almost all other churches, opposes the death penalty. The gravity of the crime is not a factor; the death penalty is permitted only if “it would not be possible otherwise to defend society.”
Another thing to consider is that capital punishment is the premeditated killing of a defenseless human being, and such an action contributes to the “culture of death.”
“State-sanctioned killing in our names diminishes all of us.” (“A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death,” 2005, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.)
Harold Couvillon
retired accountant
Baton Rouge
On the radio one recent morning, more than 90 percent of those who called in thought the court ruling was wrong. Of course, the rape of a child is a heinous crime, but the real issue is the use of the death penalty itself.
The Catholic Church, as do almost all other churches, opposes the death penalty. The gravity of the crime is not a factor; the death penalty is permitted only if “it would not be possible otherwise to defend society.”
Another thing to consider is that capital punishment is the premeditated killing of a defenseless human being, and such an action contributes to the “culture of death.”
“State-sanctioned killing in our names diminishes all of us.” (“A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death,” 2005, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.)
Harold Couvillon
retired accountant
Baton Rouge
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