The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, meeting on the first day of a three-day meeting at Chicago's Fairmont Hotel, voted unanimously to craft a new theological statement opposing the death penalty to replace a 25-year-old one.
Several bishops said public sentiment against the death penalty, especially among active Catholics, has increased greatly in recent years and that the USCCB should prepare a statement for use as a short insert in church bulletins.
"Some Catholics do not know and are confused by the church's teaching," said Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y. "Sometimes it is oversimplified or dismissed."
I humbly offer my help to our bishops in endind the confusion over the death penalty. Here is Luke 23:39-43:
39
And one of those robbers who were hanged blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
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But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing; thou art under the same condemnation?
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And we indeed justly: for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done no evil.
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And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.
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And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.
God Himself and St. Dismas (The Good Thief) have no problem with the state applying the death penalty. Why do you?
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