Episcopal News Service reports that long-held opposition to the death penalty on the part of Episcopal leaders is gaining traction as more states move to abolish capital punishment:
The Episcopal Church officially has opposed the death penalty for more than half a century, and its advocacy is gaining traction as momentum builds across the country to end capital punishment. Bishops and other church leaders are writing letters, joining coalitions, testifying before legislators and publicly demonstrating their opposition to the death penalty.
The Church first passed a resolution against capital punishment in 1958, and that has been reaffirmed by multiple conventions since then. Read story here.
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What JC Fisher said.
Also, abortion is an individual choice--which, given that it affects an individual woman, is as it should be.
The death penalty is done by the state, however--which means it is done in my name. No thank you.
And, FWIW Jason, I don't "advocate for elective death", I---and TEC via General Convention---only advocate for the RIGHT TO CHOOSE. But I suspect you know that.
JC Fisher
Well, Jason, I find it "simply bizarre" that anyone can equate a sentient human being (regardless of criminal status), w/ a non-sentient embryo (first trimester, of which the only truly "elective" abortions occur).
So there we are: mutual incomprehensibility between us, I guess.
Lord, grant us More Light!
JC Fisher
This is simply bizzare. How can we say that we are opposed to the judicial death of convicted murderers and rapists (I am strongly against the death penalty by the way) but advocate for the elective death of the most innocent among us, the unborn?
Wherefore art thou consistency?
If we vastly improved equity and accuracy, then I could frankly live with the death penalty.
Well I couldn't.
There are issues of equity and "miscarriages of justice" that lead to the commission of crimes---to say nothing of their prosecution. Even of the GUILTY of horrible crimes, I say, "there but for the grace of God go I".
We ALL need God's Mercy and, modeling ourselves on Christ ("Father, forgive them"), we should offer mercy of our own.
JC Fisher