The Irish standard., 1912-03-09
Subject of Capital Punishment Treat
ed in a Mastery Manner by
Rev. M. Kenny, S. j.
Reason, as is its Wont. Supports the
Teachings of Both Scripture
and Theology.
Wherever the Death Penalty Has
Been Abolished Homicide
Has Increased.

Father Nj. Kenny, S. j.. in r. recent
number Of America. treats the sub
ject of capital punishment in mastery
fashion. He declared that it has been
II favorite subject of debating socie-
ties for many decades and argument
may be legitimatcy advanced for and
against it's accomplishment. 1t may be
advocated on the grounds of policy or
expediency. and it is possible that in
this locality milder methods would
serve the ends of Justice more effec-
lively; but there is one line OF argu-
ment extensively used by the abOli-
tionlsts which may not be availcd of
by academic or legislative debaters
who arc intelligent believers in Chris
tianity. Capital punishment is not
necessarily un-C Christian, barbaric, or
unjust, and has sound phlosophic and
theological warrant.
In the primitive revelation God said:
"Who so sheddeth mans blood his
blood shall be she'd" and in the
Sinaltic code He enjoned the death
penalty for certain offenscs. The per-
mission granted for divorce because
Of the hardness Of your hearts" He
has rescinded. but the principle Of
capital punishment He has not reg
cinded either by direct revelation or
by His Church. On the contrary, ST.
Paul, intoxicating obedience to civil
which is evil, fear: for he {the civil
ruler) bearcth not the sword In vain.
For he is Gods minister; an avenger
to execute wrath upon him that doth
cvil.' Rom. xiii, ~ The Church,
which has seen millions of her chill
dren suffer death unjustly, has been
striving for nineteen centuries to soft
en- and extinguish in n thousand ways
''mans inhumanity to man." but she
has never intimated that capital pun
ishment as such comes under this
punishment is the element of retribu-
tlon, and though this may not be ex-
acted on merely personal grounds, the
higher power" which is ordained by
God is divinely authorized to exact it,
and, when death is judged the measure
of rctribution, to enforce that penalty.
Reason, as is it's won't. supports the
teaching Of Scripture and theology.
Since the State has received from God
and enjoys whatever powers are es-
sential to it's existence and well-being,
that punishment is lawful which is
necessary for the suppression of law
lessness and the prevention Of such
crimes as threaten it's authority and
stability, and endanger the peace Of
society. Now. conditions may exist
when punishment by death is neces-
sary to the conservation Of the States
fundamental rights, and even to its ex.
istencc; for instance, in the case Of
aggressive war from without or armed
] treason from within. The most vio-
lent peace advocate will hardly deny
the State the right under such cir
cumstances to kill its enemies on the
field, q far less humane process than
orderly execution after fair trial and
ample time for repentance. Again If
organized murder, dynamiting, arson
should develop to large proportions in
commonwealth, surely the commun-
ity las the right conceded to every
| individual to preserve its own life by
Staying its assailant. Besides infict-
ing an irremediable wrong on the per-
son slain, deliberate murder, If ade-
quately punished, endangers the lives
of other citizens and the pernanence
i of civil authority. An efficient deter
rent is mandatory. and IL the death
penalty proves the only deterrent that
is adequate, it must be conceded that
any State which has a right to exist
has right to infiict it. .i5
The question to be determined is
whether capital punishment is the only
adequate deterrent; and on this his
tory sheds some light. Assyrians,
Egyptians. Greeks and Romans, at the
! height Of their civilization inflicted 1t,
1 and it was the labor Of Christianity
for centuries to diminish the number