Published in the Baptist Times 30 September 2011
Of 34 U.S. States that retain the death penalty, some use it rarely and some constantly. It's an act of primitive barbarism that sits uneasily with democracy and basic humanity, yet it's popular with voters and politicians and - inconceivably - many Christians.
The facts are sickening. Prisoners remain on Death Row for periods between a few months and more than 25 years, caged like battery hens, till legal appeals fail, clemency is denied and the day of execution dawns.
Five men strap the prisoner down on a crucifix-shaped trolley. A nurse locates a vein and inserts an IV, then withdraws from the sealed room - to avoid personal involvement in the actual killing, which would not be professional. Lethal chemicals are pumped in, paralysing the vital organs. When death ensues, the death certificate states the cause as 'homicide.'
State homicides are so routine that a person's execution doesn't make even back-page news. Many Christians don't know it still happens in 'civilised' countries. Others retort, 'Yes, but what about the victims? Did he have compassion for them?'
The answer is probably no. A person does not commit horrific crime unless something has gone horribly wrong with their thinking. Many offenders perceive their whole life as a fight to survive, in a hostile environment offering no protection and no one who cares if they die.
Sentencing such an offender to execution for his crimes only confirms that the world hates him. If you think 'hate' is too strong, browse the internet comments by ordinary members of public, about what they'd like to see done to violent offenders. They're violently offensive.
An offender who proves, by his crime, unable to cope with his own inner terror, rage and vengefulness, is the very last person on whom others should focus their rage or thirst for punishment. The overspill could poison the whole of society.
The charge in death penalty cases - as in similar cases accorded life sentences, which allow the offender time to rethink and change - is aggravated murder. Death Row inmates may or may not have committed the crime; it's common for other criminals to give false evidence, in order to avoid harsher penalties themselves.
Evidence of innocence may go missing or be tampered with, in the race to appease the public by securing a conviction in the name of being 'tough on crime.' In 'The Death of Innocents' Sister Helen Prejean documents many Death Row prisoners proved innocent - after their execution.
But don't those who do commit unspeakable crimes against fellow human beings deserve to die, with as little choice as their victims? Some Christians quote, 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,' unaware that this is not Christian, but a damage-limitation law pre-dating Jesus' sacrifice. And we are not talking about eyes or teeth but socially-sanctioned ritual State murder, for crimes already paid for by the brutal execution of an innocent son of man.
Killing a criminal to convince him that killing somebody was wrong is illogical. Nor does it reduce crime, as it never touches the cause. It merely gives an outlet to the vindictive of heart - including some self-righteously vengeful Christians.
One deceptively kindly argument in favour of the death penalty is that it comforts, compensates or 'gives closure' to grieving families of victims. But many family members of victims of murder, and of execution, testify against this untruth. Violence does not bring peace, no matter who commits it. There are no winners, in any death sentence.
The prisoners on Death Row have disturbing histories, distressing lives and depressing sentences. The line between tyrant and victim is often unclear. What is clear is that they are human beings, like us.
Jesus loved them enough to descend into hell, which is where they live. The gates of hell, he promised, won't hold out against the Church. But are we, as Church, shoving forcefully enough against the hellish gates of Death Row - or do some Christians secretly want the 'baddies' shunted away, out of sight, out of mind, and out of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ?
