The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
Regarding Capital Punishment
October 28, 1998
Considering Pope John Paul II’s recent outspoken opposition to the use of capital punishment, it is surprising to note that the Catholic Church has not always opposed its use. Nor did Aquinas condemn the idea of putting evildoers to death.
Aquinas and the Church consider the death penalty as sometimes necessary for the common good:
"Every individual person is compared to the whole community, as part to whole. Therefore, if a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and advantageous that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good" (ST II-II, Q. 64, Art. 2).
In stating, "preserving the common good of society requires rendering the aggressor unable to inflict harm," the Catechism recognizes "the right and duty of legitimate public authority to punish malefactors by means of penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime, not excluding, in cases of extreme gravity, the death penalty" (2266).
It should be noted that in both cases, the preservation of the common good is the basis for justification of the death penalty. In most cases today, the common good can be maintained with "bloodless means" as mention in Catechism 2267.
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
