CATHOLICISM WITH REGARD TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FROM PENA DE MUERTE - 6 RESPUESTAS, 1975 BY BARDERO SANTOS, M ET AL)

• NCJ Number: 46778
• Author(s): A BERISTAIN IPINA
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Universidad de Valladolid
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: Spanish
• Country: Spain

Annotation

THE ATTITUDES OF INDIVIDUAL CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC THEOLOGIANS AND LAITY ON JURIDICAL AND RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DEATH PENALTY ARE DISCUSSED; AN UNOFFICIAL CONSENSUS IS NOTED.

Abstract

GENERALLY, CATHOLICS FEEL THAT THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS SHOULD MEET THE CRITERIA OF PENOLOGICAL JUSTICE, NAMELY EFFECTIVENESS, PRESERVATION OF HUMAN DIGNITY, AND NECESSITY. NO EXPLICIT POSITION ON THE DEATH PENALTY CAN BE FOUND IN THE BIBLE, AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DID SANCTION IT THROUGHOUT HISTORY. CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC THEOLOGIANS, HOWEVER, QUESTION THE NECESSITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY, REGARDING IT AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HUMAN DIGNITY. THEY DENY ITS DETERRENT VALUE AND CALL IT A FORM OF LEGALIZED VIOLENCE. OVERALL CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC THOUGHT IS DESCRIBED AS BEING CLEARLY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY. FOOTNOTES AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA ARE PROVIDED. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)