It is not imposed in a way that prevents the execution of possibly innocent persons. In 1993, Indiana passed a law allowing a jury to sentence a person to life imprisonment without parole as an alternative to the death penalty. We believe this alternative meets society's need for protection. We believe much of capital punishment's support springs from a desire for revenge or a desperate attempt to the terrible damage wrought by a capital crime. And such feelings are understandable in the face of brutal and senseless violence inflicted upon innocent people.
Justice is a legitimate desire.
However, we believe that justice cannot be achieved through vengeance. This belief is deeply rooted in our Scriptures. In the Gospels, Jesus said that retaliation was an incorrect response to violence. Rather, Jesus tells us to offer the other cheek and extend our hand in blessing and healing. Exacting the death penalty is not one of them.