capital punishment
Why evangelicals are applauding California’s governor for halting executions
By Heather Beaudoin — March 15, 2019
(RNS) — As evangelicals, we are taught to examine the systems around us and to call out those that are unfair and unjust. The death penalty is exactly that. It is arbitrary, biased and immoral.
The Jewish answer to how to punish the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter
By Beth Kissileff — February 27, 2019
PITTSBURGH (RNS) — I plan to avenge the attack on my husband's synagogue and our community by celebrating our lives as Jews.
Absent an imam, Domineque Ray’s execution by Alabama disenfranchises Muslims
By Megan Goodwin — February 13, 2019
(RNS) — The American legal system's anti-Islam problem might be more accurately seen as a pro-Christianity problem.
Death penalty decree could be quandary for US politicians
By Amy Forliti — August 7, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The question of whether or not Catholic political and judicial leaders would be sinning if they continue to support the death penalty is up for interpretation.
Shane Claiborne: Christians are why the death penalty lives on
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — August 6, 2018
(RNS) — Wherever Christians are most concentrated in America is where the death penalty has flourished.
Pope Francis pushes Catholics to actively oppose the death penalty
By Thomas Reese — August 3, 2018
(RNS) — The pope's recent change to the catechism is likely to face fierce opposition in the U.S., where 54 percent of the public — and 53 percent of Catholics — support capital punishment.
Pope Francis changes catechism to declare death penalty ‘inadmissible’
By Jack Jenkins — August 2, 2018
(RNS) — A vocal opponent of the death penalty, Francis also ordered a change to say the church will work 'with determination for its abolition worldwide.'
Arkansas executions a prime example of how death penalty targets the poor
By Karen Clifton — May 8, 2017
(RNS) You’d be hard-pressed to find a rich person who received the death penalty.
The death penalty killed Jesus. Is it killing us, too?
By Jonathan Merritt — September 2, 2016
Christianity purports to follow a first-century rabbi who was convicted, jailed, and sentenced to die at the hands of the state beside two other convicted felons. Here's why it matters.
Stop the execution of Jeff Wood, in the name of Jesus
By Shane Claiborne — August 18, 2016
(RNS) When it comes to executions in America, we are not killing the worst of the worst; we are killing the poorest of the poor.
Scalia’s views strayed from Catholic teaching (COMMENTARY)
By Jason L. Miller — February 18, 2016
(RNS) As someone who works in faith-based advocacy, I wonder how prudent it is to lift Justice Scalia up as an authentically Catholic voice.
Dispute over lethal injection drugs fuels drop in US executions
By Reuters — December 16, 2015
WASHINGTON (Reuters) Only six states carried out executions in 2015, with Texas, Missouri and Georgia the only ones to execute five or more people.
Thank God: Evangelicals shrink back from support of death penalty (COMMENTARY)
By Jonathan Merritt — October 20, 2015
(RNS) The NAE’s capital punishment resolution is a hopeful sign that evangelicals are catching up to the rest of America.
Thank God: Evangelicals shrink back from support of death penalty
By Jonathan Merritt — October 19, 2015
The National Association of Evangelicals has officially supported capital punishment for more than 40 years. They are now backing away.
Is Pope Francis changing church teachings before our eyes? (ANALYSIS)
By David Gibson — September 26, 2015
(RNS) On two issues, Francis himself may have provided some answers during this visit.