蜜桃交友

By Pope

The US Supreme Court has set four new federal execution dates for death row inmates. These are the first set dates in over 17 years. Archbishop Coakley explains that the last federal execution took place in 2003. In the years since then the US has seen both Republican and Democratic administrations, and so, according to Archbishop Coakley, this apparent reluctance in carrying out executions is not 鈥渕erely a partisan influence鈥�.

Death penalty in the US

The death penalty has been so widely utilised in the United States, 鈥渋n so many鈥� states, yet 鈥渙verall, for many, many years, the public opinion has been moving away from the death penalty鈥�. It is for this reason, that after almost two decades of silence, the news that the federal government will be authorising the execution of prisoners comes as a shock, 鈥渁nd certainly as a disappointment鈥�, says Archbishop Coakley.

It is true that these prisoners may have, perhaps, committed heinous crimes, says Archbishop Coakley. But even if these four people whose executions have been scheduled are guilty of the most terrible of crimes, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there is any situation in which the death penalty is justifiable鈥�, he says. Archbishop Coakley adds that he stands with Pope Francis, as well as with the recent developments of the Catholic Church鈥檚 understanding of the death penalty, reiterating 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see that it is justified鈥�.

The Church's position

We have seen in the Magisterium of the last several Popes, beginning especially with John Paul II in his Evangelium Vitae, and then through Pope Benedict and Pope Francis, 鈥渁 greater clarification of the Church鈥檚 position on the death penalty鈥�, says Archbishop Coakley. He explains that this teaching is being 鈥渞efined鈥� through time and that it will take time for Catholics to understand its importance.

Archbishop Coakley goes on to explain that there are many reasons for the death penalty being a breach of morality, beginning with the fact that it is 鈥渁n affront against human dignity鈥�. On top of that, he adds, 鈥渋t contributes to the coarsening of society and promotes a culture of violence鈥�. Archbishop Coakley goes on to stress that there is also 鈥渢he very real possibility鈥� and evidence 鈥渢hat sometimes innocent persons have been condemned to death鈥�.

鈥淪o, for many, many reasons, I think we need to as a nation to really step back and reconsider the use of the death penalty in this country. We can do better,鈥� says Archbishop Coakley, adding that 鈥渁s Americans, we are proud of the freedoms we enjoy in the country, and yet, this does not portray the values on which our Republic has been based from the beginning, in a very attractive or positive way鈥�.

Injustices in the justice system

Archbishop Coakley then goes on to note that 鈥渢he death penalty does not appear to be applied equitably鈥�. He notes that in the United States 鈥渢he poor and minorities are much more likely to be given the death sentence than others鈥�, and describes this as a 鈥渟ystemic鈥� harsh reality. There are other ways of administering justice to protect society and of 鈥渞edressing the wrongs of victims of crime and their suffering鈥�, he argues.

The US reacts

There is a growing movement in the United States that opposes the death penalty, says Archbishop Coakley. He notes that 鈥渆very time there is an execution in the United States, wherever it may be, there is always some sort of a gathering of people of faith鈥�, who unite in prayer for an end to this kind of treatment of our brothers and sisters. This growing movement, he says, is moving us in the right direction. However, he adds, there 鈥渟eems to be a real setback鈥� with the announcement of these four federal executions. 鈥淚 would hope that, God forbid, if these executions are carried out, that it might indeed spark a greater awareness and a greater moral outcry against the use of the death penalty in the United States鈥�.

Archbishop Coakley concludes by noting that we do have a long way to go, but that through 鈥減eople speaking up鈥�, including people of faith, 鈥渨e are definitely moving in the right direction鈥�. The decision to resume federal executions has been an unfortunate setback, he says, 鈥渂ut I am not losing hope. Life will be victorious.鈥�