Death Penalty
Important Ruling on the Death Penalty
06/25/2008 04:47 PM
The
Supreme Court ruled 5-4 today against the expansion
of the use of the death penalty for those who have
raped, but did not kill, a child. While the Catholic
Church strongly condemns sexual violence of every
kind, Catholic teaching calls for an end to the use
of the death penalty because we have other,
non-lethal ways to protect society from those who
commit heinous crimes. The U.S. bishops have been
calling for an end to the use of the death penalty
for almost three decades and today’s ruling to
prevent the expansion of the death penalty is a
welcome victory.
North Dakota and Culture of Life: Maps Tell a Story
01/15/2008 01:04 PM
The first is from a story at Stateline.org on how states approach embryonic stem cell research. The second is from the Forum.
Update on N.J. Death Penalty Ban -- It's Official
12/17/2007 01:39 PM
This
morning, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed
into law a repeal of the state's death
penalty.
Abolition Movement Heating Up?
12/13/2007 06:30 PM
We
just got word from the New Jersey Catholic Conference
that this afternoon, the New Jersey General Assembly
voted 44 – 36 to abolish the death
penalty.
South Dakota Scheduled Execution and Feast of Maria Goretti
07/06/2007 12:36 PM
South
Dakota is scheduled to execute Elijah Page sometime
next week. State law prohibits announcing the time of
the execution until 48 hours before.
Notably, today, in a sense the eve of the week, is the Feast of Saint Maria Goretti. Goretti was murdered after she refused her attacker's sexual advances. The killer, Alsessandro Serenelli, eventually confessed, repented, and testified for Goretti's beatification cause. He spent the rest of his life at a Capuchin monastery serving the Lord.
Elijah Page, who is only 25, will not have the opportunity for such a conversion and life. Sadly, his execution comes becomes he has waived all appeals. Essentially, the state of South Dakota is assisting Page's suicide.
Notably, today, in a sense the eve of the week, is the Feast of Saint Maria Goretti. Goretti was murdered after she refused her attacker's sexual advances. The killer, Alsessandro Serenelli, eventually confessed, repented, and testified for Goretti's beatification cause. He spent the rest of his life at a Capuchin monastery serving the Lord.
Elijah Page, who is only 25, will not have the opportunity for such a conversion and life. Sadly, his execution comes becomes he has waived all appeals. Essentially, the state of South Dakota is assisting Page's suicide.
Montana May Abolish Death Penalty
02/24/2007 10:36 AM
The Montana Senate has
voted to abolish the death penalty in that state.
North Dakota legislators saw the wisdom of not
seeking to enact the death penalty here. Let us pray
that Montana's legislators take this important step
toward building a culture of life.
The Bismarck Tribune has posted an AP story on Montana's actions.
See also the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty.
The Bismarck Tribune has posted an AP story on Montana's actions.
See also the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty.
Support for Death Penalty Waning Nationally
12/29/2006 03:23 PM
Catholic News Service
recently posted this report about the declining support for
the death penalty in the United States. It is
something North Dakota legislators should consider
if the legislature faces a bill to introduce the
death penalty.
Little Support for Death Penalty Bill?
12/28/2006 02:09 PM
A survey of North
Dakota legislators by the Associated Press shows
little support for enacting the death penalty
here. Go here for the full
story.
(While the link is still valid.)
Bishop Samuel Aquila Responds to Sentence of Death in Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. Case
09/22/2006 01:43 PM
In response
to today’s sentencing of Alfonso Rodriguez,
Jr., Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, bishop of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Fargo, issued the following
statement.
“The sentence of death which was imposed today upon Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr., obscures for all of society the truth of the inherent dignity of human life.
“Responding to this senseless act of violence with another act of violence through imposition of the death penalty does not erase the hurt caused by the first act. Rather, it reinforces the false perspective of revenge as justice. In doing so, it diminishes respect for all human life, both the lives of the guilty and the innocent.
“Those who feel that imposition of the death penalty can be used as a statement to dissuade future predators from similar attacks are not looking at the full potential effect of violence as an answer to violence. According to some of the testimony heard, Mr. Rodriguez experienced violence as a child. He later inflicted violence as an adult. Violence only promotes violence and is not the way of Jesus Christ. As Pope Benedict XVI has said, ‘Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul.’ By condoning and imposing the death penalty, society continues rather than thwarts this cycle of violence. Furthermore, society today is capable of protecting itself by sentences of life imprisonment without parole, allowing the person who has committed such a violent crime time for conversion and repentance for his action.
“I grieve today for the family and friends of Dru Sjodin who have suffered so greatly during these past several months and who continue to miss Dru beyond imagination. I grieve, also, for the family and friends of Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr., who have suffered severely as a result of his actions.
“The imposition of this sentence of death calls for further grieving – grieving for all of society -- a society that moves ever closer toward embracing the view that human-imposed death can bring healing to those affected by heinous crimes and justice to the guilty.
“We as a society, as Christians, as Americans, can serve victims of violence better by seeking ways to combat violence against life at its very source – by teaching and living the truth that all life is gift, all life is precious, and all life is to be protected.”
“The sentence of death which was imposed today upon Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr., obscures for all of society the truth of the inherent dignity of human life.
“Responding to this senseless act of violence with another act of violence through imposition of the death penalty does not erase the hurt caused by the first act. Rather, it reinforces the false perspective of revenge as justice. In doing so, it diminishes respect for all human life, both the lives of the guilty and the innocent.
“Those who feel that imposition of the death penalty can be used as a statement to dissuade future predators from similar attacks are not looking at the full potential effect of violence as an answer to violence. According to some of the testimony heard, Mr. Rodriguez experienced violence as a child. He later inflicted violence as an adult. Violence only promotes violence and is not the way of Jesus Christ. As Pope Benedict XVI has said, ‘Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul.’ By condoning and imposing the death penalty, society continues rather than thwarts this cycle of violence. Furthermore, society today is capable of protecting itself by sentences of life imprisonment without parole, allowing the person who has committed such a violent crime time for conversion and repentance for his action.
“I grieve today for the family and friends of Dru Sjodin who have suffered so greatly during these past several months and who continue to miss Dru beyond imagination. I grieve, also, for the family and friends of Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr., who have suffered severely as a result of his actions.
“The imposition of this sentence of death calls for further grieving – grieving for all of society -- a society that moves ever closer toward embracing the view that human-imposed death can bring healing to those affected by heinous crimes and justice to the guilty.
“We as a society, as Christians, as Americans, can serve victims of violence better by seeking ways to combat violence against life at its very source – by teaching and living the truth that all life is gift, all life is precious, and all life is to be protected.”