Gov. Holds Clemency Hearing for 'Tookie;' Various Denominations Oppose Execution
Christian leaders from several of the nation’s largest denominations voiced opposition to the death penalty as the governor of California held an hour-long clemency hearing for former gang member Stanley 'Tookie' Williams Thursday morning.
The governor of California held an hour-long clemency hearing Thursday morning for former gang member Stanley “Tookie” Williams. Christian leaders from several of the nation’s largest denominations, meanwhile, voiced opposition to the death penalty.
While some have recently called for clemency in Williams’ case, the call by others has been to get rid of the death penalty altogether. While William's counsel has focused on their client as a reformed peacemaker, prosecutors have pointed to his four convictions for murder. The governor may intercede before the set time for William's execution by lethal injection on Tuesday at 12:01 A.M.
"We are not requesting, nor seeking to send a message that criminal actions or behavior will be tolerated,” stated a letter addressed to California’s governor and released by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) last week, “nevertheless it is important to send a message to those who have been not only incarcerated, but also find themselves to have made poor decisions in the past that forgiveness involves changing your behavior and improving of your character.”
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The letter, which was signed by Christian leaders along with some of other faiths, included signatures of members from two of the top 10 Christian denominations in terms of membership – the Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal denomination with 5.4 million members, and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. with 3.5 million members.
The signers stated that William’s writings opposing gang violence and his expressions of remorse over his past ways of life demonstrate positive change.
Other denominations opposed to the death penalty include the Roman Catholic Church with 65 million members, the United Methodist Church with 8.5 million members, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 4.9 million members, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) with 3.2 million members.
The Southern Baptist Convention, which is the largest protestant denomination with 16 million members, renewed its resolve to accept the use of the death penalty in 2000. The Assemblies of God does not have an official stance.
On Dec. 2, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) issued a plea for an end to the practice of capital punishment. The statement cited recent resolutions against the act by the church’s General assembly, including a 1959 statement which says that the death penalty could not be “condoned by an interpretation of the Bible based upon the revelation of God's love in Jesus Christ.”
"Seek the redemption of evil doers and not their death... the use of the death penalty tends to brutalize the society that condones it,” read the statement.
Following the clemency hearing, the California Catholic Conference's executive director said that Gov. Schwarzenegger should grant the petition for clemency.
"We appreciate that this is a challenging and difficult situation,” said Ned Dolejsi, according to the Sacramento Bee. "But consistent with a good society and Catholic teaching, this is an opportunity to show mercy."
In March of 2005, U.S. Catholic Bishops, which represent 65 million faithful nationwide renewed their call against the death penalty. They reaffirmed a statement released in 1980, which attempts to counter arguments that the death penalty should exist as a method of retribution, a deterrent against crime, and a way to reform.
In the document, the bishops grant that being near death may induce a criminal to repent "but we should certainly not think that this threat is somehow necessary for God's grace to touch and to transform human hearts."
Regarding deterrence, they made the argument that the "small number of death sentences in relation to the number of murders also makes it seem highly unlikely that the threat will be carried out and so undercuts the effectiveness of the deterrent."
It goes on to say that the need for retribution "does indeed" justify punishment. However the group cited Jesus “who urges upon us a teaching of forbearance in the face of evil (Matthew 5:38-42) and forgiveness of injuries (Matthew 18:21-35).”
They state that punishment should be determined "with a view to the protection of society and its members and to the reformation of the criminal…." The document stops short of reintegration of the criminal in society because they say it's not possible in some cases.
While the document recognizes the need to offer sympathy to victims of violent crime and their families, it says such recognition should not lead to demands for vengeance but rather, a resolve to help victims, offering financial, medical, and psychological help as long as necessary.
