Catholic Church changes its doctrine on the death penalty
The policy is in line with Pope Francis’s views but is likely to be rejected by countries that practise capital punishment
Vatican City — The Catholic Church formally changed its teaching on Thursday to declare the death penalty inadmissible whatever the circumstance, a move that is likely to be viewed askance in countries where capital punishment is legal. The church, which has 1.2-billion members, has allowed the death penalty in extreme cases for centuries, but the position began to change under Pope John Paul, who died in 2005. The Vatican said it had changed its universal catechism, a summary of church teaching, to reflect Pope Francis’s total opposition to capital punishment. According to the new entry in the catechism, "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person", it said, citing an address by Pope Francis. The church was working "with determination" for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, the new teaching said. The new provision is expected to run into stiff opposition from Catholics in the US and other countries where capit...
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