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Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment. Death Penalty. The execution of a person by the state as a punishment for a crime committed. The term capital comes from the Latin capitalis literally meaning “regarding the head.” Hence, a capital crime was originally punished by the loss of the head. Brief History.

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Capital Punishment

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  1. Capital Punishment

  2. Death Penalty • The execution of a person by the state as a punishment for a crime committed. • The term capital comes from the Latin capitalisliterally meaning “regarding the head.” Hence, a capital crime was originally punished by the loss of the head.

  3. Brief History • For the most part, from the colonial period to the beginning of the 20th century the death penalty was legal and many executions were carried out across our nation

  4. Brief History • In the mid 19th century, the abolitionist movement began to have an effect on public opinion of the death penalty

  5. Brief History • 1834 Pennsylvania became the 1st state to end public executions • 1846 Michigan abolished the death penalty for all crimes except treason • 1852 Rhode Island abolished it altogether

  6. 1917 – 1940’s • The perceived threat of communism and socialist ideals began to take foothold in American society • Increase in gangster activity • The Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder • Criminologist began to argue the death penalty was a “necessary social measure” in light of the Great Depression

  7. Types of Execution • Stoning. Probably the world’s oldest form of capital punishment. Although not legal in the U.S. it is used in other parts of the world, mostly in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.

  8. Types of Execution • Crucifixion. Most common in ancient Rome. Could take hours, even days to complete. Death by asphyxiation. • Death by Hanging. One of the more ancient forms.

  9. Firing Squad • Only 2 people have been executed by this method in the U.S. It still remains an option in Idaho, Oklahoma, and Utah.

  10. Electric Chair • First took place in 1890 and remained the most common form in the 80’s. • Still available in 10 states

  11. Gas Chamber • Chambers are flooded with lethal cyanide gas. • The last gas chamber execution took place in 1999 • 4 states still allow it as an option • Death can be extremely painful and slow. In several high profile executions, one of the more infamous was that of Jimmy Lee Gray, who frantically gasped, moaned, and slammed his head into a steel pipe for 10 minutes as the cyanide slowly took effect.

  12. Lethal Injection • In 1982 the U.S. became the 1st nation to use this method • The most common today, all executions in 2005, and 2006 were by this method • There are 3 drugs inserted in sequence. • Pentothal which induces a coma • Pavulon which causes paralysis • Potassium Chloride which causes the heart to stop • Pentothal sometimes does not induce the coma, leaving the disturbing possibility that at least some prisoners may experience pain

  13. The Church • The Church has taught that it can be morally permissible to use lethal force in self-defense. • Church fathers like Tertullian, Clement, and Origen have taught that the states authority to execute comes from its duty to defend the common good.

  14. The Church • Thomas Aquinas taught that legitimate authority - which is understood as those responsible for maintaining public order – could legitimately put an offender to death if the offender posed a serious threat to the community. • The legitimate authority argument states that if an offender’s threat is so great that the only means to protect society is through his execution, then capital; punishment is morally permissible.

  15. The Statement on Capital Punishment- USCCB (1980) • Abolishing the death penalty would be an important 1st step in breaking the cycle of violence so prevalent in American society. Violence is engrained in our culture. Movies, music, TV, video games have glamorized violence and desensitized us to its effects • Abolishing the death penalty would challenge us as a nation to develop more humane, hopeful and effective responses to violent crime and to deal with criminals intelligently and compassionately, not simply with power and vengeance

  16. The Statement on Capital Punishment (USCCB 1980) • All life is given to us by God; only God has the absolute right to take it away. Cardinal Bernadine spoke of a “consistency for human life.” • Abolition of the death penalty would be “most consonant” with Jesus’ call to forgiveness. Forgiveness means being open to the contrition of the offender, but it also includes our compassionate and Christ-like response to the offender when this contrition is not forthcoming.

  17. The Church’s position is one of give and take. Under ordinary circumstances the imprisoned offender is segregated from society and poses no direct threat. Only under extraordinary circumstances, when the society does not have a penal system adequate to protect itself, may an offender be justly put to death.

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