Thesis : In principle a case can be made on moral grounds both supporting and opposing capital punishment. Two different cases can be made. One is based on justice and the nature of a moral community. This leads to a defense of capital punishment. The second is based on love and the nature of an ideal spiritual community. This leads to a rejection of capital punishment. JUSTICE AND THE NATURE OF MORAL COMMUNITY A central principal …showed first 75 words of 675 total…

…showed last 75 words of 675 total…in each aother's lives. In short, for the moment the Christian witness to society is this: first demonstrate that capital punishment can be administered in a just and efficient manner. Then we will debate with you as to whether capital punishment is in priciple necessary, fitting and right or whether a humane society will find non-lethal alternatives to protect citizens from persistently violent criminals. Until then the church should say 'no' to this extreme measure.