Pope Francis says death penalty not aligned with the Gospel.

[Jonathan Bailey]

Both the Pope and I oppose the death penalty, period. I was baptized a United Methodist in 1981 and my church then opposed the death penalty in its social principles.

Pope Francis changes church's teaching on the death penalty

At that 2017 ceremony, Francis said the death penalty violates the Gospel and amounts to the voluntary killing of a human life, which "is always sacred in the eyes of the creator."

Besides for Christian reasons, I feel that the criminal justice system is sometimes flawed, even with the best intentions, and wrongly convicts the innocent to die by the state. Being confined for life should be the maximum punishment for the most heinous of offenses.

 

[Regiomontanus]

I really love this Pope!

 

[sun rise]

I feel that the criminal justice system is sometimes flawed,even with the best intentions, and wrongly convicts the innocent to die by the state.

I agree with that. I'm not unutterably opposed to the death penalty but I am unless the standard of proof is much stronger than it is currently.

 

[74x12]

Both the Pope and I oppose the death penalty, period. I was baptized a United Methodist in 1981 and my church then opposed the death penalty in its social principles.

Pope Francis changes church's teaching on the death penalty

At that 2017 ceremony, Francis said the death penalty violates the Gospel and amounts to the voluntary killing of a human life, which "is always sacred in the eyes of the creator."

Besides for Christian reasons, I feel that the criminal justice system is sometimes flawed,even with the best intentions, and wrongly convicts the innocent to die by the state. Being confined for life should be the maximum punishment for the most heinous of offenses.

There is no Christian reason to oppose death penalty for murderers. See Romans 13. God gives authority to use the sword to proper government.

 

[74x12]

I agree with that. I'm not unutterably opposed to the death penalty but I am unless the standard of proof is much stronger than it is currently.

I like your way of thinking and I feel similarly.

 

[Shiranui117]

There is no Christian reason to oppose death penalty for murderers. See Romans 13. God gives authority to use the sword to proper government.

Any nation that pretends to be a Christian nation should try to hold at least a minimum of Christ's commandments. Killing someone takes away their ability to repent of their sins. If we're truly concerned about the salvation of all people, the only way to be consistent is to be concerned for the salvation of even the worst offenders in society.

God may give the sword to the state, but it's up to the state to use that sword wisely.

 

[Jonathan Bailey]

There is no Christian reason to oppose death penalty for murderers. See Romans 13. God gives authority to use the sword to proper government.

Religious reasons aside, I feel that the state screws up sometimes and kills those wrongly convicted of murders and such. Sometimes wrong capital convictions occur by prejudice of the jury. Race, accent, ethnicity, culture and such. Ulterior motives. A dam-Yankee from New York City isn't going to get a fair trial in Georgia or Texas on a murder charge for killing a local sheriff deputy there, even justifiably. Our society would be better without the death penalty altogether. I still side with the Pope and the United Methodist church on this one.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

God says "the wages of sin is death". That sure sounds like God believes in a death penalty. So who you gonna believe? God or the Pope?

 

[Jonathan Bailey]

God says "the wages of sin is death". That sure sounds like God believes in a death penalty. So who you gonna believe? God or the Pope?

Sin can still be forgiven and the sinner can still repent to escape death eternally according to the Christian teachings.
Killing the condemned deprives the person a chance to convert of seek forgiveness as a living person.
The electric chair might cut off the possibility of salvation by repentance or contrition if the person is actually guilty. I should whether the condemned is actually guilty of the capital crime. The person may be innocent of the murder but still guilty of some grave sin he needs deliverance from.

 

[Jainarayan]

Any nation that pretends to be a Christian nation should try to hold at least a minimum of Christ's commandments.

There's the rub... not many nations have Christianity written into their civil codes. The US certainly doesn't.

 

[Jainarayan]

Religious reasons aside, I feel that the state screws up sometimes and kills those wrongly convicted of murders and such. Sometimes wrong capital convictions occur by prejudice of the jury. Race, accent, ethnicity, culture and such. Ulterior motives. A dam-Yankee from New York City isn't going to get a fair trial in Georgia or Texas on a murder charge for killing a local sheriff deputy there, even justifiably. Our society would be better without the death penalty altogether. I still side with the Pope and the United Methodist church on this one.

And that's why there are appeals after appeals after appeals, even up to the US Supreme Court. Average time on death row is 6-8 years, depending on the state.

 

[BSM1]

Religious reasons aside, I feel that the state screws up sometimes and kills those wrongly convicted of murders and such. Sometimes wrong capital convictions occur by prejudice of the jury. Race, accent, ethnicity, culture and such. Ulterior motives. A dam-Yankee from New York City isn't going to get a fair trial in Georgia or Texas on a murder charge for killing a local sheriff deputy there, even justifiably. Our society would be better without the death penalty altogether. I still side with the Pope and the United Methodist church on this one.

This is total damned stereotypical garbage. We always give dam-Yankees a fair trial before we hang them.

 

[Komori]

What do you make of Acts of the Apostles 25:11?

 

[Samantha Rinne]

Everyone read this before continuing.

What does the Bible say about the pope / papacy? | GotQuestions.org

Galatians 1:8-9 assures us that it not who says something (defying papal infallibility) but whether it is contrary to the Gospel or not. Pope Francis is another old man, who fancies himself a rulers. Sorry buddy, you're not.

 

[susanblange]

There are seven deadly sins that cannot be forgiven and warrant the death penalty. They are: 1) Any sin against God's person. 2) Abuse or neglect of a child. 3) Murder. 4) Rape. 5) Kidnapping. 6) Paying or taking a bribe. 7) False witness, or swearing falsely by the name of God. The problem is that the judicial system here is corrupt. There will be a moratorium on the death penalty when the Messiah comes. God will set free a lot of prisoners including those on death row. I think prison should be reserved for violent offenders. The guilty will be cut off on Judgment Day, all remaining prisoners will be released.

 

[BSM1]

There are seven deadly sins that cannot be forgiven and warrant the death penalty. They are: 1) Any sin against God's person. 2) Abuse or neglect of a child. 3) Murder. 4) Rape. 5) Kidnapping. 6) Paying or taking a bribe. 7) False witness, or swearing falsely by the name of God. The problem is that the judicial system here is corrupt. There will be a moratorium on the death penalty when the Messiah comes. God will set free a lot of prisoners including those on death row. I think prison should be reserved for violent offenders. The guilty will be cut off on Judgment Day, all remaining prisoners will be released.

You left out 'jaywalking'....

 

[exchemist]

Both the Pope and I oppose the death penalty, period. I was baptized a United Methodist in 1981 and my church then opposed the death penalty in its social principles.

Pope Francis changes church's teaching on the death penalty

At that 2017 ceremony, Francis said the death penalty violates the Gospel and amounts to the voluntary killing of a human life, which "is always sacred in the eyes of the creator."

Besides for Christian reasons, I feel that the criminal justice system is sometimes flawed, even with the best intentions, and wrongly convicts the innocent to die by the state. Being confined for life should be the maximum punishment for the most heinous of offenses.

In my opinion the best argument against the death penalty is that justice is imperfect. Sometimes the wrong man is executed, sometimes a mental retard is executed because of poor legal representation, etc. You can always free and recompense, to some degree, a man in prison. But to have the death of an innocent or incapable man on the conscience of society is a terrible thing. And it certainly happens.

 

[viole]

God says "the wages of sin is death". That sure sounds like God believes in a death penalty. So who you gonna believe? God or the Pope?

So, either you never sinned, or you should have been executed already.

Correct?

Ciao

- viole

 

[Good-Ole-Rebel]

I believe the Pope is in error here. The death penalty was given by God in (Gen. 9:6). I see no where it has been revoked.

That there is mercy and grace found in Jesus Christ does not revoke the death penalty. That given in (Gen. 9:6) was to all of mankind which was the future descendants of Noah.

The Church has no death penalty. But you don't run a nation like a church.

Good-Ole-Rebel

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

So, either you never sinned, or you should have been executed already.

Correct?

Ciao

- viole

Actually the execution will come when Jesus returns and judges the living and the dead. We are talking about spiritual death not physical death. Everyone dies physically those who repent and follow Jesus will escape spiritual death.