Vatican changes teaching to oppose death penalty in all case
Aug 2, 2018 18:26:36 GMT -5
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Post by Daniel on Aug 2, 2018 18:26:36 GMT -5
Vatican changes teaching to oppose death penalty in all cases
Francesco Guarascio
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Roman Catholic Church formally changed its teaching on Thursday to declare the death penalty inadmissible whatever the circumstance, a move likely to be criticized in countries where capital punishment is legal.
The 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church had for centuries allowed the death penalty in extreme cases, but the position began to change under Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005.
The Vatican said the change to its universal catechism, a summary of Church teaching, reflected Pope Francis’ total opposition to capital punishment.
According to the new entry in the catechism: “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”
The Church was working “with determination” for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, the new teaching says.
The Vatican said the change to its universal catechism, a summary of Church teaching, reflected Pope Francis’ total opposition to capital punishment.
According to the new entry in the catechism: “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”
The Church was working “with determination” for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, the new teaching says.
The new provision is likely to run into stiff opposition from conservative Catholics in the United States and other countries where capital punishment is legal and many believers support it.
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