#426: Has Catholic Teaching On Capital Punishment Changed?

In this video, Patrick Coffin reviews the teaching of the New Testament on capital punishment (since the Old Testament is so obviously supportive) and how consistent and strong the teaching is, rooted in the Bible and the natural moral law.

 

Biblical Record:

 

Civil Authority: Romans 13:1–4 The state bears the sword by divine mandate

 

Personal Example: Acts 25:10–11 Paul accepts death if guilty

 

Criminal Justice: Luke 23:39–43 Jesus affirms the thief’s confession of just punishment

 

Divine Delegation John 19:10–11 Authority to punish comes from God

 

Mosaic Context John 19:7 Mosaic law included capital punishment; not abrogated as immoral

 

Divine Precedent: Acts 5:1–11 God directly punishes by death

 

Judicial Authority: 1 Peter 2:13–14 Governors punish wrongdoers as God’s agents

 

Theological Analogy: Hebrews 10:28–29 Death penalty as model of divine justice

 

Apocalyptic Symbolism: Revelation 19:11–15 Christ wields the “sword” of righteous judgment

Philosophy: Drawing on Edward Feser and Joseph Bessette’s book By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed—a rigorous exploration of justice, deterrence, and moral order.

 

👉 Link to book on Amazon https://amzn.to/4qbvKlW

 

Balance: Mercy and justice are not opposites; both reflect God’s holiness and love.

 

Final takeaway: Catholics can uphold both the sanctity of life and the moral seriousness of crime without contradiction.

 

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