Look at how Francis throws the Catholic tradition under the bus in light of “new understanding of Christian truth.” God in the Bible and St Thomas Aquinas would disagree. But this pope knows better.
The Jesuit Review reports
Pope Francis declared today that the death penalty is “contrary to the Gospel.” He said that “however grave the crime that may be committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and the dignity of the person.”
He did so in a major talk on Oct. 11 to an audience of cardinals, bishops, priests, nuns, catechists, and ambassadors from many countries on the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of the catechism, affirming that there has been a development of doctrine in the church and a change in the consciousness of the Christian people on the question of the death penalty. The pope’s comments and the timing of them suggest that a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church may be forthcoming to reflect this new development in the church’s understanding.
“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out. And [it] is, of itself, contrary to the Gospel, because it is freely decided to suppress a human life that is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator, and of which, in the final analysis, God alone is the true judge and guarantor,” Pope Francis said.
Categories: Bible, Catholicism, Death, God, Liberalism
Blogging Theology 
So he is against all types of human caused deaths like in wars too?
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There seems to be a call from those within the vatican to abandon the just war theory in the catholic church but the Pope has not said anything as explicit as what is said in this post. I found an article from the BBC that discusses what you asked.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36050229
As far as the Popes view on the death penalty i think that from a christian perspective it is by no means a new position to hold and considering how many christians read the old testament laws as being nullified in light of jesus, the atonement, and the new covenant.
At least this is a popular view today amongst christians of various denominations.
I might be overstepping my mark here but is this kind of language so strange to hear from an Islamic perspective? After all are there not several instances where the Prophet saught to avoid the death penalty when people came to him. and a verse in the Qur’an where it is to be avoided?
Such as in Chapter 5 verse 33 and 34. The story of Muhammad and the woman who confessed adultery to him also comes to mind.
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Well you are welcome to ask the Muslim prospective.
Muslims are suppose to prevent the death penalty where there is a possibility of an innocent being wronged.
The verses you cite, I can’t see the story you mention in the tafseer, quran exegisis.
You will find that I commented about all types of human caused death.
If there is no death penalty for undeniable crimes which have the death penalty as punishment or aggressors in war, the criminal and aggressors will take advantage of it.
Indeed in Islam there is drive to reduce death punishment to ensure the innocent isn’t wrongly punished etc
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Sorry for the confusion about the story i don’t think it is connected to the verse i mentioned but it is just something that came to mind at the time.
Thanks for clarifying about the Islamic perspective on the death penalty.
I am curious about what the current debate amongst Islamic scholars about the use of capital punishment in a contemporary society considering the variety of options that are available that may not have been during the time of the Prophet?
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Well, as I understand the Islamic laws are timeless. New situations may arise which require scholar to create allergies from the tradition to pass rulings on current matters.
I would suggest have a read on this general public tafseer on the verses you mentioned as it covers the punishments and application, in a lot of detail fit for the general public.
https://archive.org/stream/MaarifulQuran/Surah005Al-maidah#page/n109/mode/2up
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Okay will take a look thanks
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And there it comes finally. I have been expecting this for a very long time. Happy Pope Francis is the ‘chosen’ one who begins demolition of archaic traditions.
Do you still believe the Holy Spirit ‘guides’ the church into all truth (in spite of these revisions of traditions?).
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