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Catholics oppose death penalty

To the editor:
Earlier this month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced that he would lead an effort to reinstate the death penalty in the state of Minnesota. The Governor made that announcement even as thousands of volunteers searched for Dru Sjodin and law enforcement officials pursued an investigation into her disappearance. In a moment of questionable timing, the Governor used the headlines about this horrible tragedy to try to advance an issue that was not previously part of his core legislative agenda. Now is not the time to have a reasoned, honest debate about the death penalty. Instead, we urge faithful citizens to pray for Dru Sjodin, for her family, and for those involved in both the search and the investigation. And we urge you to pray for our State as well. As Minnesotans begin to heal in the wake of this tragedy, we will no doubt face the choice about whether or not to reinstate the death penalty in light of the Governorís decision to pursue the issue.
Both the Catholic church and the wider society have moved away from capital punishment as a viable solution to violent crime. Morally, legally, and fiscally, more and more Americans have come to doubt the use of the death penalty. For Catholics, capital punishment is a pro-life issue. Catholics believe in a consistent ethic of human life, which firmly establishes that all life is sacred and must be protected. Pope John Paul IIís teaching on capital punishment is clear: capital punishment can only be used in situations in which dangerous criminals cannot be isolated from the rest of society. In our society, we have the ability to imprison criminals for life, including the person who kidnapped Dru Sjodin. In this context, reinstating the death penalty in Minnesota would essentially contradict the teachings of our faith. The Catholic bishops, both in Minnesota and at the national level, have routinely opposed capital punishment, and pro-life organizations like the Knights of Columbus have also been vocally opposed. Reinstating the death penalty would also go against the trends in our broader society. Support for the death penalty has diminished significantly in the last ten years, with only a very small majority supporting the practice. Governors and states have backed away from using capital punishment in the wake of numerous instances of prejudicial application and wrongful prosecution. The financial costs of fairly implementing the death penalty are also staggering for states, and hardly worth the investment given the fact that there is no evidence that it serves as a deterrent to crime.
The Social Justice Leadership Team of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church urges you to let Gov. Pawlenty and our legislatorsÝknow that now is not the time to debate the issue of the death penalty. Further,Ýthat you are opposedÝto the reinstatement of the death penalty in Minnesota. For Catholics it is an issue of respect for life, but for all of us we should oppose it because it is not a deterrent to violent crime,Ýsome innocent persons may be put to death, it disproportionately impacts persons of color, andÝitÝreally doesÝnotÝprovide closure for the families of the victims. Our best response as people of faith is to pray for Dru Sjodin, for her family, and for those involved in both the search and the investigation.
Robert G. Walz, Chair
Social Justice
Leadership Team
St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church

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