.- Vatican officials said Sunday that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein should not be put to death, even though he has been found guilty of committing crimes against humanity.
Iraq's High Tribunal on Sunday found Saddam guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to death by hanging. However, Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace, said carrying out the death sentence would be an unjustifiably vindictive action, reported Reuters.
"For me, punishing a crime with another crime, which is what killing for vindication is, would mean that we are still at the point of demanding an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency Ansa.
"Unfortunately, Iraq is one of the few countries that have not yet made the civilized choice of abolishing the death penalty," he said.
The Church is generally against the death penalty. It argues that modern society has all the means necessary to render a criminal harmless for the rest of his natural life without capital punishment.
Fr. Michele Simone, deputy director of the Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica, told Vatican Radio that opposing the death penalty does not mean accepting what the former leader has done.
"Certainly, the situation in Iraq will not be resolved by this death sentence. Many Catholics, myself included, are against the death penalty as a matter of principle," the Jesuit priest was quoted as saying.
"Even in a situation like Iraq, where there are hundreds of de facto death sentences every day, adding another death to this toll will not serve anything," he said.
The death sentence automatically goes to a nine-judge appeals panel, which has unlimited time to review the case. If the verdict and sentence are upheld, Iraqi law stipulates that the execution must be carried out within 30 days.
Vatican opposes Saddam’s death sentence
Related news
Related articles
Feb
10
Liturgical Calendar
February 10, 2012
Memorial of Saint Scholastica, VirginAll readings:
Today »This year »
Featured Videos
 |
World Youth Day organizers unveil Brazilian-themed logo for 2013 |
 |
"World Youth Day - Rio 2013" Logo Release |
 |
Eduardo Verastegui at Lighthouse Pregnancy Center Fundraiser |
Catholic Daily
Gospel of the Day
Mk 7,31-37
Gospel
Date
02/10/12
02/09/12
02/08/12
Daily Readings
First Reading:: 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19Psalm:: Ps 81:10-11ab,12-13,14-15Gospel:: Mk 7:31-37Homily of the Day
Mk 7,31-37
Homily
Date
02/10/12
02/09/12
02/08/12
Most Popular
