The Editor, Sir:

The biblical arguments, given pro and anti capital punishment, appear to weigh heavier on the side of the advocates of the death penalty. The Public Theology Forum, an abolitionists Christian group, in defence of their stance, draws on scriptures, which opponents deem to be inconclusive against capital punishment.

One of the scriptures is found in Matthew 5 where Jesus taught an extraordinary kind of love relationship between fellowmen: "But I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

An enemy, a persecutor, is rarely a reckless murderer and, as such, can be loved as Christ taught, but how about a premeditating murderer, someone unknown, who kicks off a door to murder a family?

The Old Testament

The view among the clergy is that the Old Testament (OT) commandments are no longer applicable because they were part of the Mosaic system, which Christ set aside. But, their opponents would counter by pointing out that the command to execute those guilty of murder predates Moses, and, indeed, is in the original order of creation, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed", (Gen 9:6).

So, they conclude, the Old Testament teaching is clear, whether we practise capital punishment or not.

The matter of the woman caught in adultery is used as a model that Jesus set aside the Old Testament law concerning capital punishment. Indeed, Moses' law says she should be stoned to death, but Jesus simply asked some pertinent questions. who judged the case? Where is the male partner in the sin of adultery? Then, he said, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." Conclusion: Anyone of the mob without sin could have performed the execution. Jesus, at that point, did not abolish the Old Testament laws.

Capital punishment

Advocates of the death penalty argue that justice is love distributed, and love for the guilty individual cannot supersede love for others in the society put in danger if the violent go unchecked while justice gets weaker.

Interestingly, the underworld strongly believe in the deterrent value of capital punishment, which is why they apply it mercilessly, which is one person's answer to the question of whether capital punishment deters. And, who can quantify how many would-be murderers are restrained because the ultimate penalty hangs over their head?

Capital punishment may not be pursued by a society but it cannot be inherently immoral since God, in the Bible, commanded it.

I am, etc.,

CLAUDE WILSON

jaclaudew@yahooo.com