In a rescript, or papal decree, issued this morning, the Pope has replaced n. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church with the following text:

The death penalty

2267. Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good.

Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.

Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person",[1] and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.

__________________________________

[1] FRANCIS, Address to Participants in the Meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, 11 October 2017: L'Osservatore Romano, 13 October 2017, 5.

Number 2267 of the 1992 Catechism, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, came under the subheading "legitimate defense," and read:

2267 Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor...

Continue reading here.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Justin Bieber Used the Biggest Stage Ever to Worship God with 'Everything Hallelujah' at World Cup Final

Trump Education Department Defends Homeschool Parents from Hateful, Woke Podcasters

House Committee Approves Bill Allowing Victims of 'Trans' Drugs, Surgeries to Sue

Major Teachers Union That Funds Democrats Endorses 'Gender-Affirming Care' Amid Backlash to Transgender 'Medicine'

Oregon's Troubling Transgender Story; Why Are They Pumping Minors Full of Puberty Blockers?

Trump Admin Launches 'Largest Denaturalization Effort Ever' Against Child Molesters and Scammers

Report: Iran Moves Nuclear Centrifuges Underground as Houthis Threaten US Coalition, Red Sea Shipping

State Department Issues Worldwide Caution for Traveling US Citizens

'Resurrection of the Christ' Writer Reveals Mel Gibson's Spiritual Warfare Warning about the 'Passion' Sequel

Second Family Welcomes Their New Baby Boy

FDA: That Recalled Lettuce from Taylor Fresh Farms Turned Out to Be a 'False Positive' for Cyclospora

About Those Burn Bags President Trump Mentioned in His Address to the Nation

'Poor Little Grandma' Green Card Holder Arrested by ICE Revealed to Be Convicted Meth Trafficker

US War Department Identifies the 2 US Soldiers Killed in IRGC Attack in Jordan

Former Clinton Advisors Slam Socialist Takeover

Democratic Socialism: 10 Realities to Rescue You from Its Diabolical Deception

'We've Seen Incredible Revival': Nearly 70 Inmates Transformed by the Power of God

UK Denies Entry to Christian MP Convicted of Hate Speech for Pamphlet That Spoke against Homosexuality

'You Could Hear the Sobs of a Widow': Inside Charlie Kirk's Murder Trial

Must Watch: Rubio Goes Hard on the 'Unique Evil' of Far-Left Terrorism, Promises More to Come