Question- The old testament points to death as penalty for murderers. The new testament points to mercy and non judgement against a murderer.

What is your position vs the church's position? has Pope John paul II made any comments ever?

Thanks.

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Pope John Paul II has a clear (and challenging) statement on capital punishment in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). Unlike abortion, which can never be justified because it is the taking of an innocent human life, it is possible to make an argument for capital punishment. C.S. Lewis is one Christian author who does that. Still, as the pope argues, because we live surrounded by the culture of death, we are called to defend the sanctity of life--even in the case of the person who has committed heinous crimes. The U.S. bishop have consistently opposed the death penalty.