Our American society, perhaps more than any other, promotes and even glorifies violence. Movies and television programs often are a testimony to this tragic reality. We are tragically turning to violence in the search for quick and easy answers to complex human problems. A society which destroys its children, abandons its old and relies on vengeance fails fundamental moral tests. Too often we seem to be unable to resolve our most intractable problems without resorting to violence.
Young people seem particularly vulnerable to such messages.
It is the view of the Holy Father and of the U.S. bishops that the death penalty serves only to contribute to the culture of violence. We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. There are also many practical reasons to be against the death penalty. It is applied disproportionately to the poor and minorities and is applied indiscriminately. Of the 17,000 people who commit murder each year, roughly 2,000 are eligible for the death sentence and about 250 will actually receive a sentence of death.