“Thou shalt not kill” vs. “Thou shalt not murder” An overview of what the Catholic Church teaches regarding capital punishment

Some choices are never easy… …especially regarding the taking of another human life. In the cases of abortion or euthanasia, the ethical concerns are in many ways clearer because it involves innocent life. But in the case of a dangerous criminal who has brought violence and death to the community… Lord Eddard Stark ponders his choice to execute a deserter

Some cases might seem obvious… But are they? It might be easy, for example, simply to say that a mass murderer such as Lord Voldemort should be executed, no questions asked. After all, he has done nothing but bring about mayhem and death. And yet, he is a human person. Does Lord Voldemort possess human dignity?

So before we figure out what to do about Voldemort… Let’s find out what the Catholic Church teaches about capital punishment…

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person. What is always at stake first and foremost is human dignity. Even the most evil person is still human, possessing basic dignity But justice must be served, as well as the security and well-being of the larger community.

In Evangelium Vitae, Bl. John Paul II points out: It is clear that, for these purposes to be achieved, the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not 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. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent. Not executing a murderer does not equal “letting them off”. In fact, some consider life without parole to be a worse punishment than death. To that end, John Paul II says that crime must be punished in order to “redress the violation of personal and social rights,” but in a way which does not rob someone of their basic human dignity, nor that of society’s.

This doesn’t make the criminal a nice person Murderers have done vile, horrible things to innocent persons, so let’s not pretend that we’re all going to become best buddies. But do we as a society drag ourselves down to their level of outrage? Aren’t we better than that?

And sometimes that means that someone’s going to get killed. On the other hand… Every human person and community has a right to self-preservation and must defend themselves against incursion or invasion. And sometimes that means that someone’s going to get killed.

When someone attacks your family, for example: Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another's life, the common good of the family or of the State (Catechism of the Catholic Church). In this case, the fatal outcome is attributable to the aggressor whose action brought it about (Evangelium Vitae). Molly Weasley kills to defend her daughter’s life

Now it’s your turn Take the case of Tom Riddle, later known as Lord Voldemort. Despite all the opportunities given to him at Hogwarts, Tom still chose to follow his sociopathic path of terror, manipulation, murder and viciousness. Now cornered, chained and rendered unable to escape, what should the penalty be for his crimes? As you decide his fate, consider not only his humanity, but your own. Would your community be better served by giving him the Avada Kedavra? Would you be a better person for that? Would your society be harmed if he was given life in Azkaban? Take a few moments to write your verdict and justify it, and be ready to debate your classmates.

So what? No matter how compassionate you might be, killers such as Voldemort won’t be so quick to say thanks. In fact, he might view your mercy as weakness. But so what? Why should society lower itself to his level, right? Why bring more death and violence just at a time when we’re trying to get rid of these things?

Therefore, we must address this question: How does my rejection of the death penalty in favor of restorative justice help me? How does it affect my community? How does it impact my relationship with God, who shows mercy to sinners every day of the year? Take a few moments to journal on this, then share your ideas with the class. Severus Snape received mercy from Dumbledore and became a better person for it.