Sept. 12
PHILIPPINES:
Is there a "death penalty doctrine" in the Roman Catholic Church?
Since St. Peters times to the present reign of Pope John Paul II, theres
no record in the archives of the Vatican that the Roman Catholic Church
has a doctrine against the death penalty. Why then is the Pope and bishops
adamant in going against the death penalty in those countries of the world
that legislate it?
The reason the Roman Catholic Church is so against the death penalty is
obviously based on Pope John Paul II's position against it. In his
encyclical, 'Evangelium Vitae,' the Pope claims that societies "ought not
to go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute
necessity; in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to
defend society." In his Papal Mass at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis,
Missouri, in the United States on January 27, 1999, the Pope preached that
"The dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of
someone who has done great evil." In this same homily, the Pope declared
that the death penalty must be ended because it is "cruel and
unnecessary."
But is there a "doctrine" of the Roman Catholic Church against the death
penalty today as a result of Pope John Paul's pronouncements? The clear
answer is that theres no doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church against the
death penalty. Despite his strong belief and declarations against the
death penalty, the Pope has never said it "ex cathedra," meaning by his
authority on faith and morals in which both the clerical members and the
laity are bound to obey and respect it as doctrine of the Church under the
penalty of excommunication.
In going through historical records, it is to be noted that the Catechism
of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) expressly stipulates that, "The just
use of this power, far from involving the crime of murder, is an act of
paramount obedience to this (Fifth) Commandment which prohibits murder."
Every Cardinal Dulles, the lay theologian of the United States, before he
received the "red hat" wrote that "The Catholic magisterium does not, and
never has, advocated unqualified abolition of the death penalty. I know of
no official settlement from popes or bishops, whether in the past or in
the present, that denies the right of the State to execute offenders....
Like the pope, the (US) bishops do not rule out capital punishment
altogether.... In coming to his prudential conclusion, the magisterium is
not changing the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine remains what it has
been: That the State, in principle, has the right to impose the death
penalty on persons convicted of very serious crimes... Thus the principle
still leaves open the question whether and when the death penalty ought to
be applied."
What then is the Popes stance on the death penalty called if it is not a
Church doctrine? It is simply called a "prudential judgment," not a
doctrine. As such, it is still open to continued discussions and debates.
The laity and those in consecrated life, are "clothed" with a canonical
proviso similar to a "constitutional right" to openly agree, disagree, or
point out to the Pope, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priest and deacon
or to any Roman Catholic the legitimate teachings of the Church. This
proviso is known as Canon 212. (Sec. 2-3). Canon 212 states in Latin:
Section 2: Christifidelibus integrum est, ut necessitates suas, praesertim
spirituales, suaque optata Ecclesiae Pastoribus patefaciant. (Christs
faithful, are at liberty to make known their needs, especially their
spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of the Church.)
Section 3: Pro scientia, competencia et praestantia quibus pollent, ipsis
eius est, immo et aliquando officium, ut sententia suam de his quae ad
bonum Ecclesiae pertinent sacris Pastoribus manifestent eamque, salva
fidei morumque integritate ac reverentia erga Pastores, attentiaque
communi utilitate et personarium dignitate, ceteris christifidelibus notam
faciant. (They have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with
their knowledge, competence, and position to manifest to the sacred
pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church. They
have the right also to make their views known to others of Christs
faithful, but in doing so they must always respect the integrity of faith
and morals, show due reverence to the pastors and take into account both
the common good and the dignity of individuals.)
Is there any reason why our Church hierarchy has not preached this canon
in many of their boring humilities? Cardinal Vidal, may we hear from you?
(source: Opinion, DR. JOSE LUCERO BONPUA JR., President, CEO, The Museum
of Sacred Arts, Inc.--The Freeman)
SAUDI ARABIA----executions
3 Saudi security guards beheaded
3 Saudi security guards were beheaded Sunday in northern Saonvicted of
trafficking in hashish and using government vehicles to transport the
drug, the Interior Ministry said.
Khamis bin Mabrouk al-Sayeri, Nasser bin Mohammed al-Fahadi and Zidan
al-Oqaili al-Anzi were arrested loading an undisclosed amount of hashish
into vehicles belonging to Saudi border guards, officials said.
The guards were later convicted of drug trafficking and breaching the
state's trust for using the vehicles.
They were beheaded in the northern border city of Arar, according to the
Interior Ministry statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Sunday's executions brought to 13 the number of people executed here this
year. Last year at least 52 people, mostly drug smugglers, were beheaded.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people
convicted of drug trafficking, murder, rape and armed robbery are
executed.
Beheadings are carried out with a sword in public.
(source: Associated Press)
