The Death Penalty: An Historical and Theological Survey

Some people believe strongly in an eye for an eye, while others feel that nothing justifies the state-sanctioned killing of a human being. The death penalty continues to divide our nation, and many citizens are torn on the question of capital punishment. How one feels about the death penalty can usually be tied to one’s religious beliefs. Do we have the moral, ethical right to use death as a punishment for the most heinous of crimes, or does the sanctity of human life prevail over all else?

In this fascinating book, James Megivern offers readers a comprehensive history of the death penalty in the West. Using a chronological and historical approach, he explores the development of the death penalty through early, medieval and modern periods, following elements of its history throughout Europe. His work provides insight into why there has been such confusion surrounding the issue of capital punishment and presents background for understanding the position adopted in Pope John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical, The Gospel of Life. Megivern explores the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ rejection of the death penalty, which coincides with its escalation in favor in U.S. public opinion polls. And he gives a sampling of current European theological thought that reinforces universal human rights theory and the ideals of international law.E28