Death penalty decree could be quandary for US politicians
Source: Associated Press
Amy Forliti, Associated Press
Updated 12:41 pm CDT, Monday, August 6, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Pope Francis' decree that the death penalty is "inadmissible" in all cases could pose a dilemma for Roman Catholic politicians and judges in the United States who are faced with whether to strictly follow the tenets of their faith or the rule of law.
Some Catholic leaders in death penalty states have said they'll continue to support capital punishment. But experts say Francis' change could shift political debates, loom over Supreme Court confirmation hearings, and make it difficult for devout Catholic judges to uphold the law as written.
The question of whether or not Catholic political and judicial leaders would be sinning if they continue to support the death penalty is up for interpretation.
"It's going to be a matter of conscience," said the Rev. Peter Clark, director of the Institute of Clinical Bioethics at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. "Judges may have to recuse themselves from many cases, if they truly think it's in conflict with their conscience."
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Death-penalty-decree-could-be-quandary-for-US-13135143.php
Me.
(35,454 posts)erronis
(15,328 posts)Would a dungeon with a swinging pendulum be better?
What constitutes humane treatment, whether for the civilized world or the Catholic one?
comradebillyboy
(10,174 posts)that punish women for having sex for purposes other than procreation. I seriously doubt he cares about any other Church teaching.