The following comes from a November 9 LA Times article by Jazmine Ulloa:
California voters on Tuesday defeated a ballot measure to repeal the state’s death penalty, while a measure that would expedite and amend the death penalty process narrowly leads with more ballots left to be counted.
The final outcome will conclude a closely watched ballot race to address what people on both sides of the debate have agreed is a broken system.
Proposition 62, which would have replaced capital punishment for murder with life in prison without parole, garnered 46.1% of the vote.
Proposition 66 intended to speed up executions by designating trial courts to hear petitions challenging death row convictions, limiting successive petitions and expanding the pool of lawyers who could take on death penalty appeals.
The outcome reflects similar findings by a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll, which found California residents, like the nation, remain very much divided on capital punishment, even as public opinion has shifted against the practice over the past 40 years.
This year, proponents of the measure to “amend not end” the death penalty system centered their campaigning efforts on emotional appeals from law enforcement and crime victims, who urged voters not do away with what they called the “last defense” against the “worst of the worst in society.”
But death penalty opponents, a diverse group of crime victims, celebrities and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, argued the system could not be fixed. They pointed to a costly appeals process, the arbitrary application of the punishment and its impact on poor and minority communities.
Good. Even a majority of the leftists in the population of California still know that law and order is important in a society and that dangerous felons guilty of heinous murders ought to forfeit their lives for the sake of justice.
Now let justice resume by making use of the too-long-neglected execution chamber at San Quentin.
Totally wrong. This is not justice at all as the recent popes and all the bishops of the Church have taught. This is bloodlust, revenge, unnecessary killing of prisoners. It must be said that it is a very rare Catholic these days, and in our state, who will follow the Magisterium on a consistent ethic and teaching pro-life. It is not a day to be proud of in California. It is a failure for justice, for life, and for mercy.
“A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made most recently at Christmas for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.” (Pope John Paul II at the Papal Mass, St. Louis, Missouri, January 27, 1999).
jon, we have a BIG RESPONSIBILITY to protect society! Especially vulnerable children, mothers, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, etc.!! There is a time and a place, for all things, in this world! You may be surprised at what God has to say, about all of this! St. Michael the Archangel is ready to help, in times of extremely dangerous emergencies!! (He also may help to legitimately defend the innocent– even if that means, to take the life of a savage attacker!!)
P.S. I am not suggesting, of course, that St. Michael will actually take someone’s life, only that in mysterious ways, he can protect the innocent, and we cannot understand the outcome of those situations, as they may be a complete mystery, known only to God!
Even if a horrible murderer on Death Row is not actually executed– maybe it would help a little, to “scare the Hell out of him,” by having this punishment left on the law books, for the murderer to think about, and to fear! Maybe it could serve as a crime deterrent, to possibly scare some young punks out of committing crimes! Our society is much too permissive, immature, immoral, selfish, barbaric, and violent! And Christian Morality is not upheld, nor believed in, nor taught! We do not have a so-called “enlightened” modern society, as our naïve prelates would think!
“Maybe it would help a little to scare the hell out of him.” This is so wrong. It is preposterous. You’re making a plaything out of an issue of life and death. “Maybe it could serve as a crime deterrent.” Another fallacy: we’ve had the death penalty in California for a LOOONG TIIIIME. And has it deterred capital crimes? NO! You speak of Christian morality not being upheld. PRECISELY! Christian morality is not being upheld by the continued existence of the death penalty. Lastly, who said anything about us living in an “enlightened” society? NO ONE! NO pope or bishop or priest has said that. This is a red herring you’re putting forth.
Peoples: it is just amazing that on this election year, when the country rightly chose a man who promised to rollback some, and hopefully many, of the unjust advances of the state into the lives of American citizens, that Catholics in this state—especially Catholics from this here blog—voted against a measure (ie, Prop. 62) that would have deprived the state the ultimate power over the life and death of its citizens. Amazing. It shows the cognitive dissonance in the thinking of many of the folks here. It’s incomprehensible why any freedom-loving, red-blooded American would continue to hand over to the state—as high-handed, tyrannical it can get, and flawed—such enormous power. And appealing to the Church’s teaching to…
prove your contrary point won’t work, for the Magisterium is now calling on states to abolish this cruel and unnecessary form of punishment.
Perfect.
Perfeito!
Savages!
the “living magisterium” was rejected….
Right. And listen to what Our Lord said about that: “Whoever listen to you listens to Me, whoever rejects you rejects Me, and whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). It is not a simple matter of “rejecting” the living Magisterium. Folks have in effect rejected Christ’s words and therefore also rejected the words of the Father.
Jon, the Church has a long tradition of upholding the death penalty, which is not overruled by trendy US bishops or even by the pronouncements of the two most recent Popes, including the present Marxist incumbent.
You are incorrect when you state “all the bishops” have taught capital punishment is wrong.
rabbit: Ok, prove your point. Name one Catholic bishop today who teaches that capital punishment is allowed, is not wrong. Quote him for us here.
And rabbit, it is the Magisterium that has the ministry, the responsibility, to interpret Tradition and Scripture authoritatively and correctly. They have correctly interpreted that because there are now other means to defend society short of killing a capital criminal, that the death penalty is now unnecessary and cruel. It is not “trendy” at all: if it were, Californians by the droves would have voted yes to Prop. 62.
jon, I think you can most always find the topic of capital punishment discussed, under the “Fifth Commandment,” in the “Ten Commandments” section, of any Catholic Catechism! I just found the topic, on page 604, of our post-Vatican II Catechism, No. #2266. The paragraph starts out with, “Preserving the common good of society…” You might want to read it.
sixlittle, you are correct: the Church throughout history has universally upheld the legitimacy of the death penalty. That continues even today in the Catechism.
No bishop, and no pope, has ever taught that the death penalty must be abolished nor that Catholics are morally obligated to support its abolition. Some have exhorted a restricted use of the death penalty and some have exhorted countries to abolish it, but none has ever taught that it must be abolished.
Don’t ever confuse prudential judgment with authentic Magisterial teaching, as some yawners on this site do.
WRONG! Pope John Paul II has spoken numerous times calling for the abolition of the death penalty. So has Benedict and Francis. Their quotes are easily found in the internet.
“This evening a demonstration will be held at the Colosseum as part of the world campaign for a moratorium on the death penalty. The Great Jubilee is an excellent opportunity to promote in the world ever more mature forms of respect for the life and dignity of every person. I therefore renew my appeal to all leaders to reach an international consensus on the abolition of the death penalty, since ‘cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically non-existent.'” Pope John Paul II’s Angelus Message on December 12, 1999.
It is justice. Time to warm up old sparky …
Finally I vote with the majority in this liberal Democrat State.
death is always the answer.
wait ’till Christianity is a capital offence.
Execution is proceeding weekly in California, don’t you know?
Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff Dennis Wallace was shot “execution-style”, by a long-time career felon yesterday am, 11/12/16. He is the 5th policeman to have been shot in CA in the last 5 weeks.
The anti-death penalty sock-puppets only care about their reflection in the mirror, not about ensuring just commensurate punishment. Sorry, Wallace family.
Also, today the City of Chicago made public it’s latest totals of executions conducted daily by street “justice”.
So far this year with over a month to go, Chicago has had 4000 shootings and 674 street-executions, more often called “murders” in politically correct parlance.
Campion– yes, Chicago has so far this year, reported 4,000 shootings, and 674 street-executions– it is a very DANGEROUS city!! I also read recently, that Pueblo, Colorado, has now become the murder capital of the U.S, since Colorado legalized so-called “recreational” dope! Is this true? Anyway, we need to restore law and order, respect for Christian morality, and respect for society, in America! It is compassionate that the recent Popes and prelates want to end capital punishment. However, it is a worry, that the Church refuses to teach firm, no-nonsense Christian morality, self-control, and protection for innocent, helpless, good citizens! Instead they favor babyish liberal hedonism!
I don’t think a liberal, lawless, immoral, hedonistic society, in which criminals and juvenile delinquents get away with whatever evils they wish to do– is ready for a better, more Christian way of life, in which there is no extreme punishment– or threats of punishment– for serious crimes, such as violent murders. I would NOT want to sit on a jury, and agree to such a severe punishment for a criminal– I might have to decline to be a juror, in such a case, for religious reasons! What would Jesus do??? However I don’t think the Death Penalty is used much anymore! But wouldn’t it SCARE some criminals, and serve as a crime deterrent, if left on the books?
I really believe, that the key to a better society, with good citizens and less crime– is for the Church to teach Christian morality firmly, and expect everyone to obey! And for those who refuse to obey Christ, a letter of excommunication from the bishop! The Church really has to be “no-nonsense,” along with love for Christ’s people! Then, we will see a better society, and less crime! Next, the Death Penalty may be forgotten, and the Pope and bishops all will be happy!
The death penalty process is broken. The sentence is seldom carried out and inmates die of old age at great expense to the taxpayer. My plan: A searching and through investigation, using all the tools of technology, A fair and impartial trial, followed by two appeals. If those appeals fail, execution by guillotine (quick and painless) on the following Friday. If we get busy, we could clear death row in a very short time.
hosemonkey–Are you Catholic? What would Jesus do? Can you see Him operating a guillotine?? Well, what scares me most– is violent murderers sitting for years on Death Row, and next we see one of them paroled, set free, and it is terribly frightening! How about innocent people, good citizens? They deserve protection from violent criminals!!
It is hard to know what the well-meaning recent popes and bishops would say, if they were in the field of law enforcement– and daily came face-to-face, with the reality of cold-blooded, violent killers, psychopaths, with no moral conscience! Extremely dangerous criminals, headed eventually for Death Row! What would they say about this subject, if they had more direct involvement and experience?? And how would they plan to best protect innocent, vulnerable citizens??– that is our first priority!! Well, I think things have not changed, since the ancient world, on this subject! And in the end– overall, I respect the traditional teaching of our Church!