California bishops back abolishing the death penalty

Story here.  That’s certainly the direction we’re headed.  And it isn’t as if there aren’t legitimate arguments for abolishing the death penalty.   Arguments that are both Christian and darn practical I should add.  After all, the post-Christian Left is already making it clear that there ain’t room in this country for the two of us.  Not that a state dominated by a singular value system couldn’t turn on a dime and reinstate the death penalty.  But it might delay things down the road.  After all, the post-Christian left certainly doesn’t call to end the death penalty based on Sanctity of Life issues.  This would be the same movement that continues to broaden the scope of abortion, assisted suicide, and even euthanasia.  So obviously there are some pretty non-Christian reasons for abolishing the death penalty.

Of course there are arguments for the death penalty.  Both secular and Christian.  One might argue the secular reasons for the death penalty are, in the end, no better than the secular reasons against it.  But the Christian reasons are a tough sell, since the world has changed, and it’s clear that the Church, as well as a growing segment of the Faith community as a whole, is beginning to reinterpret the ancient teachings in order to keep up the times.

We’ll see.  If the vote doesn’t go through this time, I’m sure it will.  One thing about progress and reform is that the ball is always in the court of change.  Even if, eventually down the road, the call is to change back.