The Death Penalty

A Catholic Perspective


Bibliography

A Call for the Abolition of the Death Penalty:
A Statement by the Washington State Catholic Conference, 1998
Official Statement of Washington State Bishops

U.S. Catholic Bishops' Statement on Capital Punishment
U.S. Catholic Conference 1980
Official Statement of U.S. Bishops

The Pope's Statement – From Evangelium Vitae
Pope John Paul II, 1995
Encyclical Statement from John Paul II

The Death Penalty in Our Time
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, 1985
The Paramount U.S. Catholic Statement against the Death Penalty, from which arises the "consistent ethic of life" and "seamless garment" positions.

Catholicism and Capital Punishment – Avery Cardinal Dulles
Catholic-Historical-Conservative Perspective

Witness to Life: The Catholic Church and the Death Penalty
Cardinal Roger Mahoney
Current Reflections in Light of Statement by JPII

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Take the Higher Road – Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua
Brief article outlining traditional teachings and new perspectives

The Gospel of Life vrs. The Death Penalty – Most Rev. Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap. 1999
Excellent synthesis of current Catholic thought

FRONTLINE: Angel on Death Row (Interview Script) – Sister Helen Prejean. C.S.J.
Script of Frontline Production

A Catholic Lawyer Argues Against the Death Penalty – Kevin Doyle
Personal Reflections-Sociologicial-Experiencial

Marianist Social Justice Collaborative Death Penalty Issue Team Proposal – Marianists
Marianist Perspective and Proposal Against the Death Penalty

Resistance, Rebellion, and Death: Reflections on the Guillotine – Albert Camus, 1957
Secular Position Against the Death Penalty, with Insights into the Catholic Perspective

Declaration of Life – That the Death Penalty not be Sought in the Event of My Violent Death