My recent Catholic Herald articleabout Pope Francis and capital punishment has gotten a fair bit of attention. Some of it has been positive, some of it less so. In a new essay at Catholic World Report, I respond to four critics – Austen Ivereigh, E. Christian Brugger, Mark Shea, and Robert Fastiggi.
Meanwhile, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, commenting on the current controversy and on By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed: A Catholic Defense of Capital Punishment, writes:
As we are getting accustomed to, the pope’s comments lack precision and his increasingly Anglican-style ambiguity allows for varying interpretations.
However, the debate on capital punishment is a good one to have and there are strong arguments to be made on both sides…
But instead of a vigorous debate or dialogue progressives seem intent on shutting down the discussion… Although I am not a death penalty advocate, I reviewed Feser and Bessette’s book in a balanced way for a centrist Catholic website, but as far as I know the review has not been published. Is dialogue on this issue to be desired or shall we all duck for cover as the “Roma locuta” flags are being waved and we are expected to march in lock step?...
Whether we like it or not, Bessette and Feser have made strong points, but their arguments are not being addressed with any seriousness or sound reasoning. There are plenty of people who can answer Bessette and Feser, and they should do so.
End quote. Concerns about the pope’s recent remarks have also been raised by theologian Eduardo Echeverria at Catholic World Report, by P. J. Smith at First Things, by philosopher Joseph Shaw at Rorate Caeli, and by theologian Fr. Brian Harrison at One Peter Five. LifeSiteNews interviews five Catholic scholars who find the pope’s remarks problematic.