As we have pointed out in previous statements, the death penalty is further indication of a culture of violence that haunts our nation. Sadly, we are the most violent nation on earth not currently at war. It is reflected in our movies and music, our television and video games, in our homes, schools, and on our streets. More ominously, our society is tempted to solve some of our more significant social problems with violence. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are suggested as a remedy for the burdens of age and illness.
Capital punishment is marketed as the answer to deal with violent crime.
A nation that destroys its young, abandons its elderly, and relies on vengeance is in serious moral trouble. The Catholic Bishops of the United States join with Pope John Paul II in a recommitment to end the death penalty. We will work not only to proclaim our anti-death position, but to persuade others that increasing reliance on capital punishment diminishes society as a whole. In addition, we recommit to work with our community of faith to combat crime and violence, to turn our prisons from warehouses of human failure and seedbeds of violence, to places of rehabilitation and recovery. We will stand with victims of crime and seek real justice and accountability for them and their families.