Massachusetts bishops oppose death penalty for 'Marathon bomber'
April 06, 2015
The Catholic bishops of Massachusetts have issued a statement voicing their opposition to the use of the death penalty in the case of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the “Marathon bomber.”
Tsarnaev is on trial for the April 2013 bombing that killed three people and injured more than 200 who were standing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. As the trial neared its conclusion—with a guilty verdict virtually certain—the Massachusetts Catholic Conference released a statement from the leaders of the four Catholic dioceses in Massachusetts, arguing against the death penalty.
“The defendant in this case has been neutralized and will never again have the ability to cause harm. Because of this, we, the Catholic Bishops of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, believe that society can do better than the death penalty,” the bishops reasoned.
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Posted by: Jerz -
Apr. 08, 2015 2:55 PM ET USA
I think this is the wrong case for the bishops to choose as a lesson on the death penalty as there are many more arguments people can make in favor of the death penalty.
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Posted by: DrJazz -
Apr. 08, 2015 9:19 AM ET USA
The bishops' statement certainly is in conformity with the Catechism. However, what I find disheartening is that, of all the issues affecting Catholics now, they chose THIS one to discuss publicly. Are there no other issues more directly impacting Catholics and their ability to live out their faith peacefully in society than this one? To what degree did they address THIS issue because they knew their words would be broadcast by popular media, whereas their views on other issues might be ignored?
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Posted by: shrink -
Apr. 07, 2015 10:31 AM ET USA
We are losing our sense of proportion in these matters--to think that a terrorist deserves the same punishment as a common murderer who gets life in prison. The history of moral theology from Augustine until just recently CLEARLY teaches that mercy cannot be exercised without regard to justice. In addition, Our Lord never taught that execution for crime was immoral, even when challenging Pontius Pilate—indeed, the good thief on the cross teaches the opposite.
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Posted by: ElizabethD -
Apr. 07, 2015 2:32 AM ET USA
I agree with the bishops. It is Christian to call for mercy. The first big sin after the Original Sin was Cain killing Abel; after that Cain thought God would throw him to the wolves, but on the contrary God showed mercy, not only did God not want Cain killed, Cain's own murder would be avenged sevenfold. More killing does not stop the problem of killing. However heinous his crimes, does no one have pity on this boy who was so misled and radicalized through looking up to his big brother?
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Posted by: Thomas429 -
Apr. 06, 2015 10:51 PM ET USA
I would like to see the "punishment fit the crime", But, we may be better served by locking this animal up and throwing away the key.
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Posted by: Elan -
Apr. 06, 2015 9:45 PM ET USA
Why be embarrassed? The Catechism of the Catholic Church says as much. (CCC 2267) It is precisely in matters such as these that their role as shepherds demands they point to the way of perfection in Christ. One may disagree on the basis that the bomber may incite further harm upon people from his cell and therefore cannot truly be "neutralized" any other way. But if he is rendered harmless by incarceration, he should not be executed.
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Posted by: shrink -
Apr. 06, 2015 5:49 PM ET USA
This is embarrassing. I am ashamed to have these men as my spokesmen.
