Dealing with the death penalty when one of your congregation is the victim
Several months ago, a woman and her two daughters were brutally murdered in Connecticut. It was an awful crime and a terrible tragedy.
Today the NYTimes updates us on another aspect of the story. The mother was an opponent of the death penalty and the Methodist church to which she belonged has also been opposed to the death penalty. Yet it is unclear if the father, who survived the attack, wants the murderers to receive the death penalty. As he struggles with what he wants, the church is restraining itself and also it appears that some members of the congregation have changed their positions.
It is relatively easy to be opposed to the death penalty theoretically, for many good reasons, but when the victims are personal friends this story shows us how difficult it is to remain affixed to those ideals.
Today the NYTimes updates us on another aspect of the story. The mother was an opponent of the death penalty and the Methodist church to which she belonged has also been opposed to the death penalty. Yet it is unclear if the father, who survived the attack, wants the murderers to receive the death penalty. As he struggles with what he wants, the church is restraining itself and also it appears that some members of the congregation have changed their positions.
It is relatively easy to be opposed to the death penalty theoretically, for many good reasons, but when the victims are personal friends this story shows us how difficult it is to remain affixed to those ideals.
posted by Lux Intellectus at 4:11 PM
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