How I Changed My Mind on the Death Penalty
“I also understand that a not insignificant number of Jesus-loving, Bible-believing, wise, and discerning Christians are in favor of capital punishment…. I’m just not sure that a pro-capital punishment reading of Scripture is the only faithful reading—or even the most faithful reading.” - Dale Chamberlain
One of the most powerful arguments against the death penalty is the reality that in many jurisdictions, police do not carry out their responsibilities under Brady v. Maryland and Kyles v. Whitley to do an adequate investigation and share exculpatory information with defendants. A good example is how there was a string of death row exonerations in Illinois, mostly related to police or prosecutorial misconduct.
In which case, the law needs auditors to find this misconduct, and prosecutors who are willing to prosecute their own and the police for failing to adhere to Brady & Kyles. So in a manner of speaking, the biggest issue doesn't have anything to do with the penalty phase at all.
That noted, the author's examination of the Church Fathers also misses this reality, as the bloodthirsty nature of the pagan Roman regime would execute a person for just about anything. So in a manner of speaking, were our forebears saying the death penalty is wrong when used on the Old Testament pattern, or were they saying not to take part in it when it's clearly a matter of terror rather than justice? I'd argue the latter.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Discussion