The Bible speaks in favour of the death penalty for murder. But it also prescribes it for 35 other crimes that we no longer regard as deserving the death penalty. In order to be consistent, humanity should remove the death penalty for murder.
What does the Bible say about death penalty?
In the Hebrew Bible, Exodus 21:12 states that “whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.” In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus, however, rejects the notion of retribution when he says “if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Do Christians believe in the death penalty?
Christian arguments in favour of capital punishment
Some Christians argue that capital punishment helps to maintain order and protection in society. They would say this because: The Bible sets down the death penalty for some crimes, so it must be acceptable to God. This is often seen as retribution .
What religions support the death penalty?
Roughly half of U.S. Catholics (53%) – including a majority of white Catholics (63%) – also favor the death penalty, in contrast with church leaders’ stance. Seven-in-ten white evangelical Protestants in the U.S. (71%) support the death penalty, a position held by many of their churches.
Does the Church support the death penalty?
On October 3, 2020, Pope Francis issued a new encyclical entitled Fratelli Tutti (“All Brothers”), which ratified the position of the Catholic Church against the death penalty and called upon all Catholics to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
Why is the death penalty bad?
The death penalty violates the most fundamental human right – the right to life. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The death penalty is discriminatory. … An innocent person may be released from prison for a crime they did not commit, but an execution can never be reversed.
Is the death penalty good?
A: No, there is no credible evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than long terms of imprisonment. States that have death penalty laws do not have lower crime rates or murder rates than states without such laws. … The death penalty has no deterrent effect.
Is death penalty against human rights?
Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because it is inherently cruel and irreversible. In 2007, the Philippines ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which requires countries to abolish the death penalty.
Does religion affect the death penalty?
Religious Preference
More than 7 in 10 Protestants (71%) support the death penalty, while 66% of Catholics support it. Fifty-seven percent of those with no religious preference favor the death penalty for murder.
Can the Pope order an execution?
Capital punishment in Vatican City was legal between 1929 and 1969, reserved for attempted assassination of the Pope, but has never been applied there. Executions were carried out elsewhere in the Papal States during their existence.
How many people on death row are innocent?
Eighteen people have been proven innocent and exonerated by DNA testing in the United States after serving time on death row. They were convicted in 11 states and served a combined 229 years in prison – including 202 years on death row – for crimes they didn’t commit.
What states does the death penalty exist?
States With the Death Penalty (27)
- Alabama.
- Arizona.
- Arkansas.
- California.
- Florida.
- Georgia.
- Idaho.