Jul 8th, 2009
Posted by Suzanne Ito, ACLU at 4:41pm	Capital Punishment

Faith and Conservative Values in Opposition to the Death Penalty

Featured today in Sojouners magazine is an op-ed by Richard A. Viguerie, the man whom The Nation once called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement." In it, Viguerie argues that his Christian faith and conservative values compel him to oppose the death penalty:

I'm a Catholic. Because of my Christian faith, and because I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I oppose the death penalty. I'm a conservative as well, and because my political philosophy recognizes that government is too often used by humans for the wrong ends, I find it quite logical to oppose capital punishment.

[…]The fact is, I don't understand why more conservatives don't oppose the death penalty. It is, after all, a system set up under laws established by politicians (too many of whom lack principles); enforced by prosecutors (many of whom want to become politicians—perhaps a character flaw? —and who prefer wins over justice); and adjudicated by judges (too many of whom administer personal preference rather than the law).

Conservatives have every reason to believe the death penalty system is no different from any politicized, costly, inefficient, bureaucratic, government-run operation, which we conservatives know are rife with injustice.

But here the end result is the end of someone's life. In other words, it's a government system that kills people.

h/t: Steve Hall

Permalink |	Capital Punishment

1. Paen Says:
   Jul 8th, 2009 at 5:46pm

   It's good to see a well thought out
   post by a real conservative rather the usual tirades of radical right wingers.

2. Kurtisj Says:
   Jul 9th, 2009 at 12:56am

   It's quite possible that many Catholics and "conservatives" simply get too swept up in the Fox/Rove frenzy to otherwise remember the NT text that they read (or maybe they didn't read it at all).

   Those possibilities are very unfortunate, but at the same time it's uplifting and hopeful to read such an influential man's personal conclusions to line up with my own, however different we may be.

   It took the country hundreds of years to purge itself of slavery with fringe remnants remaining to this day. It probably will take hundreds of years more for the country to purge itself of unusually and cruelly imposing death as a part of its own system. That day will come, hopefully sooner than later.

3. Eric Says:
   Jul 9th, 2009 at 11:10am

   Anyone who supports the aclu is the scum of the earth.

4. cw Says:
   Jul 9th, 2009 at 3:08pm

   Wow eric what a well thought out argument

5. Rob Says:
   Jul 10th, 2009 at 9:23am

   cw what a great come back. I think that he might have been talking to you.

6. Rob Says:
   Jul 10th, 2009 at 9:26am

   Paen, looks like you might be on your way to the good side. Conservative. We will take the inch you give us because we know deep down you REALY do love America. No matter what hate you preach on here.

7. Common Sense Says:
   Jul 10th, 2009 at 9:45am

   If I have to kill someone to stop them from killing me or someone else, I will not think twice!

8. Vietnam Vet Says:
   Jul 11th, 2009 at 2:42am

   I really pray that all opponents of the death penalty get to experience, first-hand, the actions of these monsters that end up on death row. I hope YOUR wife is raped then murdered, or better yet, that YOUR son or daughter is tortured to death just for the thrill of it. Then you will have even more opportunity to to be noble and to forgive !!

9. roald Says:
   Jul 15th, 2009 at 2:10pm

   Vietnam Vet...in all seriousness, your postings hint that you might be suffering from PTSD. Please get yourself checked out.

   CommonSense, I agree. It is what you do after the fact that counts. Even more telling is what we do to ensure someone pays.

   Rob, your comments on GLBT issues indicates you care more for your religion than for America. On the other hand, your religion preaches loving the sinner, hating the sin, helping those less fortunate, and forgiveness, so I can't be sure.

10. Christian American Patriot Says:
    Aug 21st, 2009 at 5:46pm

    God cares more about your spiritual needs than your physical needs because your life on earth is temporary but your life after death is permanent.

    If a person does a crime that is punishable by death then it must be serious especially if they were convicted of murder, rape or other hanious crimes. We cannot let those crimes go without punishment and what would be the purpose of a person serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole? Yeah, they will live but what kind of life is that? For those who are not saved, it will be their heaven on earth but for the Christian, life on earth is hell but they have to live it the best they can with God's help.

    Even if they are truly sorry and turns to God for forgiveness they still must pay the price for what they did but their soul will be saved and when their life has ended, they will spend eternity with God.