Pope Francis Declares Death Penalty 'Unacceptable'

Pope Francis has changed the Catholic Church's teaching on the death penalty, stating in a new policy released on Thursday, August 11, that capital punishment is always 'unjust' as it constitutes an 'attack' on the inherent dignity of all human beings. According to the Associated Press, Pope Francis has approved this change in the Church's official teachings. Previously, the Church's teachings allowed for the use of the death penalty 'if it is the only effective way to defend human lives against an unjust aggressor.' The new teaching states that the previous policy is outdated, there are other ways to protect the common good, and the Church must commit to working towards the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. Part of this new teaching, which was approved in May but released on Thursday, states: 'The Church teaches, in light of the Gospel, that the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the dignity and inviolability of the person and works for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.' The death penalty has been abolished in most of Europe and South America, but it is still enforced in the United States and some countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that he might soon take steps to reinstate the death penalty. Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 as part of its efforts to join the European Union. The head of the Vatican's office for doctrine, in a letter accompanying this change, stated that the new perspective on the death penalty is not in contradiction with previous Church teachings but rather an evolution of them. Cardinal Luis Ladaria said: 'In fact, if in the past political and social conditions made the death penalty an acceptable method for protecting the common good, today the common understanding is that the dignity of a person is not lost even after the most serious crimes.' The Associated Press reminds that Pope Francis has always opposed the death penalty and emphasized that no matter how heinous the crime, this punishment is not justifiable. He announced his decision to change the Catholic Church's teachings on the death penalty last October, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the formulation and publication of these teachings. The Church's teachings were published during the papacy of John Paul II and serve as a very simple guide to the Church's views on all spiritual and worldly matters. In his speech last year, Pope Francis stated that the death penalty violates the spirit of the Gospel and means the deliberate killing of a human being, which 'is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator.' He acknowledged that even the Vatican had previously deemed 'the application of this severe and inhuman punishment' acceptable. However, he stated that the Vatican had made a mistake by adopting a mindset 'that was more legal than Christian' and now has a better understanding. Amnesty International, which has long campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, welcomed this change, calling it 'a very important step.' Ricardo Nuri, a spokesperson for Amnesty International in Italy, stated: 'The Catholic Church had previously expressed some opposition to the death penalty. But now it has made this position clear and unequivocal.' He also praised the Church's decision to play an active role in the fight for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.