Changes

*[https://www.gotquestions.org/capital-punishment-murder.html Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6)?] ''GotQuestions''. Retrieved October 15, 2019.</ref> though critics of biblical Christianity falsely accuse Christians of hypocrisy for holding to the biblical position.<ref>[https://www.gotquestions.org/pro-life-war-death.html Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war?] ''GotQuestions''. Retrieved October 15, 2019.</ref>

*[https://www.gotquestions.org/capital-punishment-murder.html Why did God mandate capital punishment for murder (Genesis 9:6)?] ''GotQuestions''. Retrieved October 15, 2019.</ref> though critics of biblical Christianity falsely accuse Christians of hypocrisy for holding to the biblical position.<ref>[https://www.gotquestions.org/pro-life-war-death.html Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war?] ''GotQuestions''. Retrieved October 15, 2019.</ref>

There are several compelling justifications for the death penalty today.  It promotes conversion and confession by the criminal.  It can bring closure and relief to the families of victims of terrible crimes.  It can deter wrongdoing.  It can be a helpful negotiating tool for prosecutors to obtain a prompt confession and life sentence rather than force victims' families to endure delays in justice, and a disturbing trial.  The death penalty also helps ensure that the criminal does not repeat his crime in prison, or escape and harm the public further.

There are many compelling justifications for the death penalty:

*it promotes confession, repentance, and conversion by the criminal;

*it helps bring closure and relief to the families of victims of terrible crimes;

*it helps deter wrongdoing, such as murder while in prison;

*it is a helpful negotiating tool for prosecutors to obtain a guilty plea and thereby spare the victims' families of a distressing trial; and

*it ensures that the criminal does not escape and harm others further, and frees victims from that worry.

Opposition to the death penalty ignores its foregoing justifications, and instead resorts to [[pacifism|pacifist]] arguments.  Most opponents of the death penalty are inconsistently [[pro-abortion]].  The [[Roman Catholic Church]] supported the death penalty for most of its existence, but changed its doctrine in 2018. [[Pope Francis]] has argued, without any assertion of [[infallibility]], that capital punishment is unacceptable in all cases.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html</ref>  [[Jesus]] never denounced the death penalty despite clear opportunities to do so.

Opposition to the death penalty ignores its foregoing justifications, and instead resorts to [[pacifism|pacifist]] arguments.  Most opponents of the death penalty are inconsistently [[pro-abortion]].  The [[Roman Catholic Church]] supported the death penalty for most of its existence, but changed its doctrine in 2018. [[Pope Francis]] has argued, without any assertion of [[infallibility]], that capital punishment is unacceptable in all cases.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/pope-death-penalty.html</ref>  [[Jesus]] never denounced the death penalty despite clear opportunities to do so.