"A Welcoming Community of Faith Rooted in the Catholic Tradition"

 

THE DEATH PENALTY

 

The Evangelical Catholic Church is unconditionally opposed to the death penalty under any circumstances.

This Catholic jurisdiction embraces the belief that all life is unconditionally precious, since life comes from God. Any act, which fails to respect the gift of life, is inherently and morally wrong.

The Evangelical Catholic Church fully recognizes and shares in the pain and suffering when one human commits violence against another person. When a person takes the life of another, we acknowledge the pain and the hurt. But we also recognize that taking the life of the guilty will not return a lost loved one to their family and friends, or will it, in reality, erase the pain and loss. We do not wish to shield the guilty from the consequences of their actions, but we do not believe that the taking of their lives is a legitimate answer for one cannot respond to an inherently wrong action by committing another inherently wrong action.

We also believe that in this country [The United States of America], the death penalty has been applied unfairly along racial, ethnic, and socio-economic lines. Not only is the act of the death penalty inherently wrong, but the manner in which it is applied become morally wrong.

We call upon all nations, along with the United States of America, which continue to impose the death penalty, to abolish it.

Approved July 1, 2001

National Church Office
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