The Justice and Advocacy Committee has adopted this statement on the Death Penalty, calling for abolition of capital punishment in Pennsylvania. Statements from our constituent denominations, such as those linked below, explain why capital punishment is morally indefensible as well as ineffective as a deterrent and inevitably more expensive to tax payers than a sentence of life in prison. Also, many innocent people have been convicted of murder — some of them later exonerated, and others executed.
Here are statements on Capital Punishment from some of the major church denominations. Also see these other resources (below).
American Baptist Churches, USA
- “American Baptist Resolution on Capital Punishment”
1958 and 1966 American Baptist Conventions,
Affirmed as Church Resolution, 1982
www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Capital-Punishment.pdf
Episcopal Church
- “Recommitment to Abolish the Death Penalty,”
2001 Executive Council Resolution
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1866_70079_ENG_HTM.htm - “Reaffirm Opposition to the Death Penalty and Call for a Moratorium”
2000 General Convention
www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2000-A082
Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Summary of Policy Statements from General Assemblies of 1959, 1977, 1978, 1985
store.pcusa.org/7263097705 - Summary of Presbyterian Statements on Capital Punishment
www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/101/capital-punishment/
Reformed Church in America
- “General Synod Statements: Capital Punishment”
www.rca.org/capitalpunishment
Roman Catholic
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: Documents and Resources on Capital Punishment
www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/death-penalty-capital-punishment/index.cfm
Southern Baptist Convention
- “On Capital Punishment”
2000 Annual Convention
www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=299
United Church of Christ
- Resolution, “Call for the Abolition of the Death Penalty,”
1999 General Synod
lists.ctucc.org/pdfs/resources/1999uccgs22abolishdeathpen.pdf
United Methodist Church
- Social Principle on the Death Penalty from the Book of Discipline, 2004
archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=6385 - Resolution, “Capital Punishment,” 1980, 2000
archives.umc.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=4&mid=1070 - Resolution, “In Opposition to Capital Punishment,” 2000
archives.umc.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=4&mid=1071
Other Resources
- Death Penalty/Capital Punishment/Pennsylvania Death Row
efpjc.ppjr.org/issues/prison/#death