Good news for Christians: Connecticut Supreme Court outlaws death penalty
Most Christians oppose the death penalty as one of The Ten Commandments clearly states "Thou shall not kill."
In the Bible, Jesus talked about forgiveness several times, and the prevention of inflicting harm on people. Just recently, Pope Francis said capital punishment is "inadmissible, no matter how serious the crime committed."
It comes as good news for Christians, therefore, when the Supreme Court in Connecticut recently voted 4-3 to outlaw the death penalty after a comprehensive two-year review of the state's law on capital punishment.
The state's highest court declared the death penalty as unconstitutional, arguing that capital punishment no longer serves any valid purpose as punishment, and does not conform with societal values.
The court ruling spared the lives of 11 convicts in Connecticut currently on death row.
The decision essentially overturned a law signed in 2012 by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy abolishing capital punishment but allowing the execution of inmates who have already been sentenced to death.
"In light of the governing constitutional principles and Connecticut's unique historical and legal landscape, we are persuaded that, following its prospective abolition, this state's death penalty no longer comports with contemporary standards of decency and no longer serves any legitimate penological purpose," Justice Richard Palmer said in the majority ruling.
"For these reasons, execution of those offenders who committed capital felonies prior to April 25, 2012, would violate the state constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment," he added.
The ruling stemmed from an appeal filed by Eduardo Santiago, who faced the death penalty by lethal injection for a murder-for-hire he committed in 2000.
Santiago's lawyers argued that any execution carried out after the 2012 law will be a cruel and unusual punishment.
The three judges who dissented, however, criticised their four colleagues for prioritising their values over the law enacted by the governor and the state's legislature.
