When Bishop Sean P. O'Malley announced Thursday he was opposed to capital punishment, he said he hoped to influence Catholic legislators to vote against the death penalty, even if that's unpopular with voters. Polls nationally and in Massachusetts, though, indicate a majority of voters support the U.S. Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion, and an even larger majority favors the death penalty.
Capital punishment can be moral only when is necessary for public safety.
It is no longer necessary, and therefore must be abolished. Two local legislators who are Catholic, Rep. Michael J. Rodrigues of Westport and Rep. John F. Quinn of Dartmouth, both agree with the church's opposition to abortion, but they disagree on capital punishment. Rodrigues supports the death penalty, while Quinn does not. While acknowledging they're guided by their religious upbringing, both Rodrigues and Quinn said they have no problem separating their Catholic beliefs from their public policy views. I happen to be in line with the church, and I'm a good Christian, but you have to make some judgments on these issues.