"The Golden Rule... has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted." - Pope Francis to Congress, September 24, 2015
Both the House and the Senate are led by Catholic politicians - Speaker of the House John Boehner and Vice President Joe Biden - but the Pope's moral call is one that speaks to our common humanity. The death penalty is an evil, barbaric institution that has no place in a just society. It does not deter crime and, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, "At least one person is exonerated for every 10 that are executed."
But even if every single executed person were guilty, it would still not be the state's place to end a sacred human life. Capital punishment is just more violence. It is just more death.
As we seek to heal America and establish justice, all of us need to rise up with one voice and tell our elected leaders that the death penalty has no place here anymore.
Sign the petition today and tell John Boehner, Joe Biden, and your members of Congress: Ban the death penalty for federal crimes today!
The Pope's moral call to you and your fellow members of Congress is one that speaks to our common humanity: We must follow the Golden Rule, acknowledge that all human life is sacred, and ban the death penalty for federal crimes at once.
As the Pope said, "The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty. Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation."
The death penalty is an ineffective detterant, it wastes taxpayer dollars, and it kills innocent men and women who are often exonerated. But even if none of that were true, it still perpetuates the cycle of violence.
I implore you to heed the Pope's call and end the death penalty for federal crimes today. It has no place in America today.
