This means praying for and consoling not only the victim and their loved ones – but also the person responsible for the offense. The message this sends to Catholics and people of faith is that they must hold high ideals when it comes to the feelings of other human beings enduring pain and suffering – even those who have committed dreadful crimes. And according to Catholic teaching, capital punishment is no longer ethically acceptable. It is hard to find support for the death penalty in the teachings of Jesus, for whom peace lies in forgiveness and true salvation involves reconciliation. But Scripture also says that there is no value in vengeance. Ramirez has been found to be guilty of murder. Intentionally taking the life of another human being is a grave sin. “I want the last thing you see in this world to be the face of love,” Sr.
In the 1995 film “ Dead Man Walking,” Sister Helen Prejean, a real-life Catholic nun played by Susan Sarandon, places her hands on the shoulder of convicted killer Matthew Poncelet, played by Sean Penn, as he walks to his execution. In these instances, death is not a violent conflict, but rather a peaceful, even joyful passage. In ways that are hard to describe well but are unmistakable, I have felt that love in the room.
In my experience, a peaceful death happens when someone is surrounded by love – friends and family are there with them. A bride holding the hand of a dying man on his bed with family members surrounding them.
0 kommentar(er)
