Jan. 3 USA: Religions, American Public Differ on Death Penalty Many religious groups advocate the abolition of the death penalty. On the other hand, strong evangelistic church communities are in favor of it. The Pew forum has researched the different positions religious groups have about capital punishment across the United States. Their findings reveal that religions have different points of view on the subject of taking a life as a means of formal retribution. In the midst of war in many places, the issue of capital punishment is one that is being discussed, especially concerning acts of terror. In the United States, the issue of capital punishment has long been debated in churches and in the halls of government. With the increase in crime that experts maintain accompanies recessions, this debate is likely to be part of the discussion. The trend around the world is towards abolishing the death penalty, but in America most people are in favor of it. Since religious groups are thought of as exercising some moral authority on questions like these, it is important to know what they believe on the matter of the death penalty. Those religions thought of as having Asian influence, such as Buddhists and Hindus, have various beliefs on the matter of life and death as discussed in articles about the issue of the death penalty. Although there is no specific position for Buddhists about capital punishment, their tenets advocate nonviolence and appreciate of all life. It is rare that capital punishment is given for any crime. Hindus have no writings on the matter, and therefore adherents of Hinduism have different beliefs about it. The Catholic Church in the United States has repeatedly called for discontinuance of capital punishment in all situations. Although the Catechism says that the death penalty is possible under certain conditions, the formal church has taken a stand against it. Protestants are of differing views, depending upon denomination. The Episcopal Church has taken a stand against the death penalty since 1958. The Evangelical Lutheran Church has no official position about it, whereas its sister church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has stated that capital punishment is in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions." Mormons leave the matter to the States or civil law. The National Association of Evangelicals supports capital punishment. The Presbyterians have been against capital punishment for nearly 50 years whereas the Southern Baptists believe in the death penalty so long as it is enforced equitably. The Unitarian-Universalists and the Methodists are opposed to capital punishment, the former for decades and the Methodists since 2000. The umbrella group for Christians, the National Council of Churches, is on record as against the death penalty. With the violence in the Middle East on both sides, Jew and Muslim, perhaps it is important to know what these groups believe. In the United States there is no official Muslim position, but in Islamic countries capital punishment is undertaken if there is intentional harm or threat to the state or intentional murder or physical harm of another person. This includes the spread of terror. All of the major Jewish groups advocate either the abolition of the death penalty or a moratorium on its use. (source: Digital Journal) CALIFORNIA: Man charged in shooting deaths of 2 people A 46-year-old Los Angeles man was charged with murder today for the shooting deaths of 2 victims, including a civilian employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Deputy District Attorney Joseph Shidler said Leonard Mitchell is charged with 2 counts of murder with a gun use allegation and a special circumstance allegation of multiple murder, making Mitchell eligible for the death penalty. Mitchell is due to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. He is being held without bail. Following a verbal confrontation, the defendant allegedly shot multiple rounds from a handgun at victim Alexander Castro. The victim, who was inside of his vehicle at the time of the alleged attack, was hit several times, including twice in the head. Castro was pronounced dead at the scene. Adriana Pizarro, an employee at the Compton Sheriff's station, was shot in the eye while standing in front of her residence 150 feet away. Pizarro was transported to a hospital where she died. If convicted as charged, Mitchell faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The District Attorney's office will not decide until the case moves closer to trial whether to seek the death penalty against the defendant. (source: Contra Costa Times) ILLINOIS: Court OKs Death Penalty Against Quadruple-Killer A federal appeals court ruled today that Indiana can reinstate the death penalty against a convicted quadruple-killer. Last year, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago heard arguments about whether Joseph E. Corcoran's death sentence should be overturned. His attorneys questioned whether Corcoran was mentally competent when he waived his right to a court review of his death sentence for the 1997 fatal shootings of his brother and 3 other men at a home in Fort Wayne. Corcoran later recanted that decision. His attorneys also questioned whether his constitutional rights were violated when prosecutors offered to take the death penalty off the table if Corcoran agreed to a bench trial rather than a jury trial. In today's decision, the 7th Circuit ruled that Corcoran's rights were not violated. (source: Associated Press)
