Pope Calls for Worldwide Abolition of Death Penalty

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

FEB 21 2016, 10:31 AM ET

Pope Calls for Worldwide Abolition of Death Penalty

by REUTERS

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday called for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, saying the commandment "You shall not kill" was absolute and equally valid for the guilty as for the innocent.

Using some of his strongest words ever against capital punishment, he also called on Catholic politicians worldwide to make "a courageous and exemplary gesture" by seeking a moratorium on executions during the Church's current Holy Year, which ends in November.

"I appeal to the consciences of those who govern to reach an international consensus to abolish the death penalty," he told tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

"The commandment "You shall not kill," has absolute value and applies to both the innocent and the guilty," he told the crowd.

The 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church allowed the death penalty in extreme cases for centuries, but the position began to change under the late Pope John Paul, who died in 2005.

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Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pope-calls-worldwide-abolition-death-penalty-n523016

Source: Crux

The pope wants a death penalty ban during his year of mercy

By Inés San Martín
Vatican correspondent February 21, 2016

OME — Pope Francis appealed to Catholic leaders around the world to work to stop executions during this year, and said the death penalty should be abolished permanently.

“The commandment ‘You shall not kill’ has absolute value, and covers both the innocent and the guilty,” Francis said Sunday after his weekly Angelus prayer. “…even the criminal keeps the inviolable right to life, a gift from God.”

“I appeal to the conscience of the rulers, so that we achieve an international consensus for the abolition of the death penalty,” Francis told the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “And I propose to those among them who are Catholics to make a courageous and exemplary gesture that no sentence is executed in this Holy Year of Mercy.”

Francis’ Holy Year of Mercy, which started Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of Vatican II, and ends on the Solemnity of Christ the King on Nov. 20, encourages Catholics to show mercy in every aspect of their lives.

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Read more: http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/02/21/the-pope-wants-a-death-penalty-ban-during-his-year-of-mercy/

[democrank]

1. Thank you, Pope Francis.

The death penalty is legalized government barbarism.

[shenmue]

2. Yes

[mr blur]

3. And yet the refusal to 'allow' people with AIDS to use condoms IS a death penalty.

I would have thought that the head of the world's largest death cult would have been in favour of the death penalty.

[99th_Monkey]

4. Unfortunately a Democratic candidate is still tone-deaf on the death penalty. sad. nt

[Lordquinton]

5. The Bible says "Thall shall not kill"

but then goes on to list a whole bunch of rules stating when people should be put to death. And then a bunch of battles where god's chosen people kill others in battles. Then a bunch of stories where god commands his followers to kill.

Strangely the bible says nothing about abortion, or contraceptives. Onan was about not using the rhythm method, so the one approved practice in the Catholic church is actually the one expressly forbidden in the bible.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Be nice if it came from a credible source.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. How's about Frank excommunicates catholic

politicians who support the death penalty.

How about actually putting some force behind the words?