Church tells Polish party death penalty is not Christian

-25/08/06

A senior Polish chu


Church tells Polish party death penalty is not Christian

-25/08/06

A senior Polish church leader has declared that it is illegitimate for campaigners for any of his country’s governing parties to claim that its attempt to restore the death penalty is ëChristianí or based on Catholic doctrine.

A number of right-wing and nationalist political forces in Poland trade heavily on their faith in a traditionally Catholic country. But the Polish Catholic Church, often accused of collusion in such matters, has become more vocal of late against anti-Semitism and other abuses conducted in the supposed name of Catholicism.

There are currently proposals in Poland for convicted murderers and paedophiles to be executed, and claims by some proponents of this policy that it would conform with Roman Catholic principles.

But according to Ecumenical News International, Jozef Zycinski, the Catholic archbishop of Lublin, has told a meeting of pilgrims: “In his encyclical Evangelium VitaeÖ Pope John Paul II clearly said the penalty for criminals shouldn’t extend to taking life. He taught respect for life at all its stages.”

The Church has had a long-standing and vehement opposition to the death penalty, one affirmed by new Pope Benedict XVI.

The archbishop said that politicians tying to court a ëstrongmaní image among voters sometimes tried to make their views appear based on Christian principles.

He warned Catholics and others not to be fooled by this, to scrutinize such claims with great care, and to stick carefully to the teaching of the Church.

Critics of the church point out, however, that on matters such as reproductive health and womenís rights, the ëofficialí Church line can be deeply repressive ñ and that people need to be encouraged to think more critically about political, ethical and theological issues.

The Church says it has a ëconsistent life ethicí, but those of differing moral and religious persuasions argue that its approach is rooted in patriarchy and hierarchy and needs to move towards a new kind of discussion.

Some younger theologians and church activists are exploring fresh ideas and more ecumenical pastoral practices, but they say they often find it difficult to do so in a very ëestablishmentí climate.

Catholic workers such as US Sister Helen Prejean have been courageous and outspoken in their opposition to the death penalty, and have won praise from many quarters, religious and non-religious.

[Also on Ekklesia: Papal envoy criticizes anti-Semitic radio broadcast; Pope to face ecumenical and social questions in Poland; Leader of nonviolent Polish struggle to be honoured; Mixed reactions to Pope’s Auschwitz speech; Pope tells Poles he backs stronger inter-church relations; Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition from Poland; Benedict says ‘never again’ at Auschwitz-Birkenau; Reference to Christianity in EU constitution gaining support; Catholic bishops back campaign to end US death penalty; US bishops launch major campaign against death penalty; World cities to declare against death penalty; Death penalty perverts Christianity, say church leaders; A Call for Reckoning: Religion and the Death Penalty; Death row nun Sister Helen Prejean writes new book; Misuse of Bible blamed for US death penalty culture]]


Church tells Polish party death penalty is not Christian

-25/08/06

A senior Polish church leader has declared that it is illegitimate for campaigners for any of his country’s governing parties to claim that its attempt to restore the death penalty is ëChristianí or based on Catholic doctrine.

A number of right-wing and nationalist political forces in Poland trade heavily on their faith in a traditionally Catholic country. But the Polish Catholic Church, often accused of collusion in such matters, has become more vocal of late against anti-Semitism and other abuses conducted in the supposed name of Catholicism.

There are currently proposals in Poland for convicted murderers and paedophiles to be executed, and claims by some proponents of this policy that it would conform with Roman Catholic principles.

But according to Ecumenical News International, Jozef Zycinski, the Catholic archbishop of Lublin, has told a meeting of pilgrims: “In his encyclical Evangelium VitaeÖ Pope John Paul II clearly said the penalty for criminals shouldn’t extend to taking life. He taught respect for life at all its stages.”

The Church has had a long-standing and vehement opposition to the death penalty, one affirmed by new Pope Benedict XVI.

The archbishop said that politicians tying to court a ëstrongmaní image among voters sometimes tried to make their views appear based on Christian principles.

He warned Catholics and others not to be fooled by this, to scrutinize such claims with great care, and to stick carefully to the teaching of the Church.

Critics of the church point out, however, that on matters such as reproductive health and womenís rights, the ëofficialí Church line can be deeply repressive ñ and that people need to be encouraged to think more critically about political, ethical and theological issues.

The Church says it has a ëconsistent life ethicí, but those of differing moral and religious persuasions argue that its approach is rooted in patriarchy and hierarchy and needs to move towards a new kind of discussion.

Some younger theologians and church activists are exploring fresh ideas and more ecumenical pastoral practices, but they say they often find it difficult to do so in a very ëestablishmentí climate.

Catholic workers such as US Sister Helen Prejean have been courageous and outspoken in their opposition to the death penalty, and have won praise from many quarters, religious and non-religious.

[Also on Ekklesia: Papal envoy criticizes anti-Semitic radio broadcast; Pope to face ecumenical and social questions in Poland; Leader of nonviolent Polish struggle to be honoured; Mixed reactions to Pope’s Auschwitz speech; Pope tells Poles he backs stronger inter-church relations; Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition from Poland; Benedict says ‘never again’ at Auschwitz-Birkenau; Reference to Christianity in EU constitution gaining support; Catholic bishops back campaign to end US death penalty; US bishops launch major campaign against death penalty; World cities to declare against death penalty; Death penalty perverts Christianity, say church leaders; A Call for Reckoning: Religion and the Death Penalty; Death row nun Sister Helen Prejean writes new book; Misuse of Bible blamed for US death penalty culture]]