A consistent ethic of life suggests that the death penalty is not an appropriate response to crime in our society. We believe human life is so precious that the state should not take the life of any person, even one who has taken another life. Each of us bears a responsibility to foster an attitude in a broader society which affirms human life and rejects vengeance as a means of promoting justice. A moratorium is an authorization to temporarily suspend executions in order to examine the criminal justice system.
All human life is sacred, even the life of a criminal.
Society can be protected by the long-term incarceration of dangerous criminals. The death penalty promotes a culture of violence and revenge. The criminal justice system is flawed with racial disparities and inadequate counsel of the poor. Innocent people have been sentenced to death. The mentally ill and mentally disabled are not excluded from execution.