{"id":2702,"date":"2013-03-21T10:01:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T10:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/maryland-catholics-call-death-penalty-repeal-a-pro-life-win\/"},"modified":"2013-03-21T10:01:00","modified_gmt":"2013-03-21T10:01:00","slug":"maryland-catholics-call-death-penalty-repeal-a-pro-life-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2013\/03\/maryland-catholics-call-death-penalty-repeal-a-pro-life-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Catholics call death penalty repeal a pro-life win"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Annapolis, Md., Mar 21, 2013 \/ 04:01 am (CNA<\/a>).- Catholics in Maryland are welcoming the repeal of the death penalty in the state as a step towards a culture of life that respects the dignity of all human persons, from conception to natural death.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cAs Catholics we recognize the intrinsic dignity of every human life, said Linda Brenegan, respect life program director for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cRepealing the death penalty acknowledges in law that value (of every human life) \u2013 even of those who have degraded themselves by committing serious crimes,\u201d she told CNA on March 20.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\u201cCould Maryland now begin to move toward acknowledging the obvious dignity of the most innocent among us \u2013 the child in the womb? We hope, pray and work for that day,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

\tOn March 15, the Maryland House of Delegates approved a measure to repeal the death penalty, following the state Senate\u2019s passage of the same bill. Gov. Martin O\u2019Malley, who introduced the bill in January, has strongly supported it and promised to sign it into law.<\/p>\n

\tWhen the legislation takes effect, Maryland will become the 18th state to end the practice of the death penalty, replacing capital punishment with life in prison without the possibility of parole.<\/p>\n

\tOpponents of the measure have not stated whether they will continue to oppose the repeal, but they do have the option of bringing it to a referendum for the state\u2019s citizens to vote on it before it goes into effect.<\/p>\n

\tPro-life advocates are applauding the measure as an important part of fostering a coherent defense of all of human life.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe are grateful to the many members of the General Assembly who considered this issue with great deliberation over the last two weeks, and who followed their conscience in supporting repeal and the value of all human life,\u201d said Mary Ellen Russell, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference in a statement.<\/p>\n

\tThe conference emphasized that the \u201cCatholic Church teaches that a consistent ethic of life demands respect for the dignity of every human life, including those of criminals on death row.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe test of whether the death penalty can be used is not the gravity of the offense, but whether it is absolutely necessary to protect society,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

\tSylvia \"Cookie\" Harris of Maryland Right to Life told CNA that \u201cas a Catholic I feel that the repeal of the death penalty is a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHarris now hopes that the renewed respect for the lives of prisoners will lead to a culture that respects the unborn.<\/p>\n

\tShe explained that going forward, she is hopeful that \u201call of the effort, and time and resources focused on ending the death penalty will now be refocused on ending abortion in Maryland.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Annapolis, Md., Mar 21, 2013 \/ 04:01 am (CNA).- Catholics in Maryland are welcoming the repeal of the death penalty in the state as a step towards a culture of life that respects the dignity of all human persons, from conception to natural death.<\/p>\n

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