Catholic View On Capital Punishment Essay

Two-hundred and forty years ago, the United States of America declared independence from the British Empire, developing a country with the fundamental purposes of freedom and liberty. One of the most prominent freedoms – the freedom of religion – remains a critical component of the present-day United States of America. More specifically, Roman Catholicism, a division of Christianity, is practiced by millions of Americans. As a monotheistic religion, followers of Catholicism are expected to promote peace, generosity, and forgiveness, all of which fall under the teachings of the sacred Jesus Christ in order to become closer to God. Nonetheless, with the power of freedom bestowed upon citizens of the United States, crime and evil often infiltrate …show more content…
In the United States, the law upholds capital punishment for criminals on a case-by-case basis, varying by state. As a legal option of punishment under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the death penalty arguably serves to fear criminals, provide closure to victims, and remove criminals of severe offense from society, according to Stuart Banner, Political Analyst. While popular reasoning for the death penalty in the United States plays a significant role towards the legality of such, most Roman Catholics believe in alternative, nonviolent forms of punishment, thus maintaining severe reservations towards capital punishment. However, under the concept of separation between church and state, the beliefs of Roman Catholics do not always hold valid to the beliefs of lawmakers and court officials in the United States of America, sparking religious and political controversy. As a unique democracy, the United States of America grants authority to citizens, allowing the beliefs of Roman Catholics concerning the death penalty to be amplified. According to the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic beliefs regarding punishment do not support the death penalty, especially within the United