Pope Benedict XVI as Cardinal Ratzinger on War and the Death Penalty

"[I]f a Catholic were at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment ...


[I]t may still be permissible to have recourse to capital punishment.

"There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about applying the death penalty..."


Adapted from the Homiletic & Pastoral Review. May 2009. Dr. Mark J. Barker's article, "Material cooperation with abortion: A test - case."

"Then - Cardinal Ratzinger made pertinent comments during the 2004 presidential election campaign, during which it had been asserted that Catholics could vote for a Catholic pro - abortion, pro - euthanasia candidate over a non - Catholic pro - life candidate not opposed to capital punishment."

In the future pope' s own words:

"Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia.

"For example, if a Catholic were at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion."


There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about applying the death penalty


"While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment.

"There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia."

Some shrewd, telling points here, Holy Father!

Thanks ... :)