Monday, January 21, 2013

PRO LIFE: THE DEATH PENALTY

updated Aug 2022

PRO LIFE: THE DEATH PENALTY
From:  Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom   

The "pro-life" term was, originally, identified with the anti-abortion movement, which still seems the most appropriate context.

Based upon biblical and theological teachings, as well as secular realities, one can, reasonably and responsibly, find that an anti-death penalty view is not pro-life. 

All sanctions are given because we value that which is being taken away. Whether it be fines, freedom or lives, in every case that we take things away, as legal sanction, it is because we value that which is taken away.

How can it be a sanction, if we do not value that which is taken away? It can't.

Death Penalty: Pro Life Since Genesis 9:6  
 
SUMMARY
 
There are two types of pro-life considerations. One is religious, the other secular and both support the other, in regard to the death penalty being pro-life. 
 
I.  Religious
 
For 4,500 years (biblical timeline), the death penalty has had a pro-life religious position (1), staring with Genesis 9:6. Anti-death penalty teachings did not occur, in major Christian denominations, until the 1950's, with the Roman Catholic Church not joining that chorus until 2018 (1).
 
Did the bible or basic theology, suddenly change? Of course not (1), as reviewed, in detail (1).
 
Through today and for more than 2000 years, there has been Christian New Testament support for the death penalty, from Genesis to Revelation, Jesus to St. Dismas, The Holy Ghost to Popes, Saints, Doctors and Fathers of the Church, church leadership, biblical scholars and theologians that, in breadth and depth, overwhelms any teachings to the contrary, particularly those wrongly dependent upon secular concerns such as defense of society and the poor standards of criminal justice systems in protecting the innocent (1).
 
II. Secular
 
The death penalty protects innocent lives, in three ways, better than life without parole (LWOP) (2): 
 
Enhanced due process: No one doubts that innocents are more protected with the super due process of the death penalty, meaning innocents are much more likely to die in prison, serving LWOP, than there is to be an innocent executed, for which there is no proof, at least, since 1915 (2).
 
Enhanced Incapacitation: Living murderers are infinitely more likely to harm and murder, again, than are executed murderers. Obvious.
Since 1973,
(a) 20,000 ADDITIONAL innocents have been murdered by those KNOWN murderers, who we allowed to murder, again - recidivist murderers and
(b) 500,000 ADDITIONAL innocents have been murdered by those KNOWN criminals, who we have allowed to harm again - recidivist criminals.
(c) 3,5 million ADDITIONAL innocents have been raped, otherwise assaulted, kidnapped, car jacked and/or robbed by those KNOWN criminals, who we have allowed to harm again - recidivist criminals.
 
Where are innocents at risk?
 
Enhanced Deterrence:  
(a) Never has a serious sanction, a potential negative outcome nor a serious negative incentive been shown to deter none. Never. It is impossible (2).
(b) crimes are net fewer with police and sanction than without police and sanction, solely, based within deterrence. Imagine your city with no police, no sanction for crime. There is no doubt.
(c) Every time a criminal "cases" a potential crime location and decides not to commit crimes, because of lighting, witnesses, cameras, police, forensics, escape routes, unreliable accomplices, etc., etc., it is, solely, based within deterrence. There is no doubt
(d) We've had 24 US studies finding for death penalty/execution deterrence, since 1996 (2). The critics of those studies do not deny that the death penalty deters, but, only, question the studies methodology (2). The studies finding for deterrence are much stronger than their critics (2).
(e) Life is preferred over death. Death is feared more than life.  What we prefer more, deters less. What we fear more, deters more. There is no doubt.
 
Would you rather "risk" saving more innocent lives or risk sacrificing more innocent lives?  . . .  as those are your two choices (2).
 
1)  FN   Religious
 
Here are over 4000 pro death penalty philosophical, biblical and theological references, which either
a) support the death penalty or which
b) refute the biblical and theological objections to the death penalty.
 
The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation
 
Jesus and the Death Penalty
 
Sister Helen Prejean: Does Truth Matter?

 
Magisterial Irresponsibility, First Things, 10/18
 
2018 CCC 2267 Amendment: 7 Factual Errors
 
Archbishop Chaput: “Both Scripture and long Christian tradition acknowledge the legitimacy of capital punishment . . . " "The Church cannot repudiate (the death penalty) without repudiating her own identity." "Archbishop Chaput clarifies Church’s stance on death penalty", CNA, Catholic News Agency, Oct 18, 2005. Chaput was then archbishop of Denver, now of Philadelphia
 
Three questions for Catholic opponents of capital punishment, Dr. Edward Feser, Catholic World Report, 9/15/2019,
 
BISHOPS HIDE TRUTH FROM THEIR FLOCK: DEATH PENALTY 
 
Catholic Bishops: So Wrong on Death Penalty
 
“At the Death House Door” Can Rev. Carroll Pickett be trusted?
 
Pro Life: The Death Penalty
 
The Woman Caught in Adultery, the Death Penalty & John 8:2-11
 
Four Catholic Journals Indulge in (anti-death penalty) Doctrinal Solipsism, Steven Long, THOMISTICA, March 5, 2015,
 
Pre-Constantine Death Penalty Support
 
Judaism & the Death Penalty
 
New Testament Death Penalty Support Overwhelming
 
 
A Refutation of the ELCA Social Statement on the Death Penalty
 
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds 
 71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims, Well Known Since 2000 
 
Forgiveness and Murder
 
"The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge" 
  
3300 additional pro death penalty quotes
 
The Evils of Cain
 
 
Cain and His Family
 
From the Fall to the Flood 
 
The Book of Jasher , Read Chapters 1-5,
 
 
 2) FN   Secular
 
 
 
The Death Row "Exonerated"/"Innocent" Frauds 
 71-83% Error Rate in Death Row "Innocent" Claims, Well Known Since 2000 
 
 The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents
 
many others
 
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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
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Additional research,w/sources, w/fact checking/vetting & critical thinking, as required of everyone.  
 
The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents
and
Students, Academics & Journalists: Death Penalty Research
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Partial CV