Death Penalty is a Homicide in Our Name

On December 10, 1948, different representatives from all regions of the world drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the General Assembly resolution 217 A (III).  Since then, all countries and regions aim to protect the human rights as a standard.  

Given the World Day Against Death Penalty on October 10, it is a practice that people pause and reflect about the current practices in the world  United States has capital punishment as part of its law.  China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore are the top countries that executed people in the world and United States is the top 5 in 2022.  Death penalty is a very old part of the justice system.  It has been codified as part of the law as early as eighteen century BC.  

United States of America is a civilized nation consists of people with good education and advances in science and technology.  This country is also working on many aspects of Justice and Peace on all angles with gun violence, human trafficking, war, and drugs.  There are loopholes but still there is a freedom of speech that makes this journalism, social media, and other communications from the public spaces possible given the policies and regulations around it.  Let us take a look to assess the justice and peace that this country is upholding and practicing. 

One of the key aspects of justice is to be able to give the rights of the people.  United States being educated and a source of innovation has the big opportunity to transform society must look into the laws that are not serving the generation of today.  

According to Human Rights Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, unhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

Mr. Robert Roberson with TDCJ Number 999442 born on November 11, 1966.  He is scheduled to be executed on October 17, 2024.  He is sentenced to death for the murder of his two-year-old daughter Nikki for a shaken baby syndrome.   The retired assistant chief detective Brian Wharton, now an ordained minister in United Methodist Church, testified for the prosecution and helped send Mr. Roberson to death row in 2003.  Mr. Wharton now doubted his case and feared that justice was not served.  A top pathologist of 46 years of experience testified that the child suffered from severe undiagnosed pneumonia and doctors treated her with high dosage of medications for which now is considered fatal especially for children.  There were other illnesses that the child was suffering such as unexplained breathing apnea, and other medical symptoms such as coughing, vomiting, diarrhea week before her death. Based on these, the justice system is putting someone's life for death penalty with doubts.

Our system of justice must look for the root causes so that we can truly restore the peace and justice to those that are lacking what they truly deserve.

For those who are religious, ponder Matthew 25:40,42-43

 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,[g] you did it to me.’...for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,... I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 

Jesus Christ already died for all and forgave all who put him to death.  Luke 23:32-34

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Why are we still killing people even after so many advancements of life, science, and technology?  What are we missing?  Should we be working towards progress where we are cultivating life-giving opportunities and healing spaces where everyone's life is treated with dignity, and human rights are truly respected.  We are killing people by paying someone to execute the people who may or may be innocent.  God is merciful from the Old Testament (Gen 18:26-33) to New Testament (Luke 5:35-38).

We are transcendental people, we are always improving and transforming.  This is an invitation to reflect what improvement and transformation are we being called to be.  Let us ponder on making our world a true just and peaceful world where we can thrive from womb to tomb.

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From TCADP (Texas Coalition Against Death Penalty):

"On Saturday, October 12, 2024, join TCADP supporters in San Antonio for breakfast and a presentation by Donna Coltharp, an Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas. Prior to joining the CHU, Donna was on the faculty of St. Mary’s University School of Law. She will share what is involved with defending clients accused in capital murder cases. This event will take place from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in the conference room of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, 2718 West Woodlawn Avenue, San Antonio 78228. RSVP to Mardi Baron at mardibaron@gmail.com."

Please check the TCADP for more details and updates on these events.

@University of Incarnate Word's Student Engagement Center October 10, 2024 11:00am-1:00pm

Want to talk to us about Death Penalty Abolition?  Come and visit us in University of Incarnate Word's Student Engagement Center in the first floor on October 12 from 11:00pm-1:00pm.  Your can learn more about the issues.  The representative from TCADP will also be there.

Read More Here:

Stop the Oct. 17 execution of Robert Roberson, an innocent father  (innocenceproject.org)
16 Events (and counting ) throughout the U.S. for World Day Against the Death Penalty - Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org)
TCADP October 2024 Newsletter: An extraordinary visit to death row – TCADP
TCADP
Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis (vatican.va)
Pope Francis closes the door on the death penalty in ‘Fratelli Tutti’ | America Magazine
Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations
Executions - Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org)
Death Penalty (eji.org)Pope Francis Pens Preface to US Death-Row Chaplain’s Book on Death Penalty| National Catholic
Register (ncregister.com)
The Issue - Restorative Justice