Category Archives: Fratelli Tutti

Today, the Holy Father discusses the Ultimate Foiundation: 272. As believers, we are convinced that, without an openness to the Father of all, there will be no solid and stable reasons for an appeal to fraternity. We are certain that … Continue reading →

A shirt final eighth chapter looks at Religions at the Service of Fraternity in our World. Pope Francis suggests that the commonality of the varieties of religious belief is that human beings are part of the family of God. If we … Continue reading →

270. I ask Christians who remain hesitant on this point, and those tempted to yield to violence in any form, to keep in mind the words of the book of Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares” (2:4). Alas, … Continue reading →

269. Let us keep in mind that “not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this”. [Evangelium Vitae 9] The firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to … Continue reading →

Pope Francis spoke early in his pontificate: 268. “The arguments against the death penalty are numerous and well-known. The Church has rightly called attention to several of these, such as the possibility of judicial error and the use made of … Continue reading →

The key question today: is there a way to guarantee the safety of citizens without killing criminals. In most cases the answer is yes.  267. Here I would stress that “it is impossible to imagine that states today have no … Continue reading →

266. Fear and resentment can easily lead to viewing punishment in a vindictive and even cruel way, rather than as part of a process of healing and reintegration into society. Giving in to negative emotions is so much a part … Continue reading →

A history lesson of select commentators, starting with an advisor to the Roman emperor Constantine: 265. From the earliest centuries of the Church, some were clearly opposed to capital punishment. Lactantius, for example, held that “there ought to be no … Continue reading →

264. In the New Testament, while individuals are asked not to take justice into their own hands (cf. Rom 12:17.19), there is also a recognition of the need for authorities to impose penalties on evildoers (cf. Rom 13:4; 1 Pet 2:14). Lawlessness … Continue reading →

Today, we begin a look at the “death penalty.” It is a difficult topic. Many Christians and others consider its targets deserving of death, and so a difficult topic to defend and advocate. But many others consider it a sign … Continue reading →

262. Rules by themselves will not suffice if we continue to think that the solution to current problems is deterrence through fear or the threat of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. Deterrence has worked somewhat during the Cold War era. … Continue reading →

Some original thoughts from the Holy Father: 261. Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil. This assessment … Continue reading →

260. In the words of Saint John XXIII, “it no longer makes sense to maintain that war is a fit instrument with which to repair the violation of justice”. [Pacem in Terris] That reference is the 1963 encyclical letter, written … Continue reading →

Pope Francis on the danger of world war in a modern world: 259. It should be added that, with increased globalization, what might appear as an immediate or practical solution for one part of the world initiates a chain of … Continue reading →

A heavily footnoted paragraph. We lead off with a reference from the Catechism. It is a truth that people, even otherwise just and good people can make bad decisions, even evil ones. They can be deceived. They can deceive themselves. … Continue reading →