1. THE REALITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY

2. DEAD MAN WALKING
Sr. Helen is played by Susan Sarandon and Matthew Poncelet is played by Sean Penn
Matthew was intimidated by an older friend
Matthew died using the lethal injection
Sr. Helen Prejean worked with Patrick Sonnier before his execution on April 5, 1984.
Patrick committed this crime with his older brother who blamed Patrick for the murders
Patrick died using the electric chair

3. JOURNAL QUESTION:
What new insights have you gained from our study of Capital Punishment? Has your stance changed through the course of our study and/or through viewing Dead Man Walking? How?

4. Evolution of Church’s Teaching
In the Old Testament certain crimes warranted the death penalty. These were: blasphemy, sorcery, murder and adultery. See John 8:3-6.
Thomas Aquinas taught that for the sake of the common good, you can kill someone by capital punishment.
But recently, the Church, especially in the United States, has condemned capital punishment.

5. Why has it changed?
The constant, common truth that the Church has always held onto about capital punishment is:
It is only acceptable “if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor” (CCC #2267).
However…these situations are “practically non-existent” today.

6. FOUR REASONS AGAINST IT…
It violates the respect for life and human dignity
Killing a criminal in “our” name diminishes all of us
The use of the death penalty in our country is deeply flawed & full of mistakes
We have other ways to punish criminals

8. ISSUES WITH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT…
RIGHT TO LIFE
JUSTICE
EFFECT ON SOCIETY
ECONOMICS
DETERRANCE
INEQUALITY
THE FUTURE