This respect for life extends to all the vulnerable, the unborn and even to someone convicted of a series of terrible crimes. The taking of a human life is a horrific act and a crime of inestimable wrong. Murder, in any and every form must be punished. We do not believe it will be deteterred by the violence of capital punishment. Capital punishment by the state, we believe, simply involves all of us in the death of another person.
Violence begets violence.
Our Church community believes the death penalty solves no problem. It, in fact, renders us evermore callous as a society to all human life. It encourages in us a mentality of revenge. The Catholic community of Western Massachusetts opposes the violence of capital punishment and teaches its people and the entire community to cherish and respect all human life as a precious gift from God that is His alone to take.