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California bishops call for end of use of death penalty

CWN - September 29, 2010

A day before the scheduled execution of Albert Greenwood Brown for a 1980 murder, the bishops of California called for an end to the use of the death penalty in the state.

“We recognize that human beings can and do commit grievous crimes, but we reject the use of the death penalty-- especially when we can protect society with an alternate penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” the bishops said. “In addition, of particular concern to us is the fact that the application of the death penalty is deeply flawed-- with those who are poor or from racial minorities most often its subjects.”

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  • Posted by: impossible - Oct. 01, 2010 11:33 AM ET USA

    The California bishops should instead concentrate on influencing the USCCB to publish honest, straight-forward Faithful Citizenship documents instead of their past successful efforts to give cover to pro-abortion politicians with ambiguous language that allows Catholic voters to conclude that all politicl issues are morally equivalent. That would save many more innocent lives than ending the death penalty. The death penalty is used as a red herring to excuse sinful voting for pro-abort pols.

  • Posted by: extremeCatholic - Sep. 29, 2010 11:19 PM ET USA

    People who have been imprisoned for life or lengthy terms for manslaughter and homicide can and do continue to injure and kill others - other prisoners and guards, or others if they escape. Also, "protection of society" is only one reason for imposing the death penalty, Catholic doctrine cites several.

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