Two Cases for the Death Penalty or Not

I would like to present you with the two following cases and ask you what you would do, how would you decided, guilty - therefore the death penalty, or not guilty or at least no death sentence.

The first case was of a very zealot KGB agent from the former communist regime, USSR., now Russia. His goal was to find Christians out and have them deny their faith or at least renounce it and pledge loyalty to the Party. He went from town to town, spying, gathering information, turning brother and sister against one another. When he found Christians he had them put on trial, even bringing false witnesses against them claiming they spoke against the government. He put one after the other to death in terrible ways.

Fast forward now, Communism collapses, this agent is found out by the allies, they have him arrested. So, what do we do now?

The second case is of a ruler of a small country, but one of great prestige and history. This ruler is seduced by his own passions, makes up rules for himself, and winds up becoming a slave of vice. His vice knows no limits, he lives in debauchery, wages war, takes woman after woman either as concubines or wives. He even takes the wife of one of his best and loyal soldiers. Eventually he plots to have him killed so that it will be easier to take this woman as his wife.

Fast forward now, the ruler is exposed, his countrymen turn on him and have him arrested. What are we to do with this man, should he punished by death or not?

Thinking on this the book the Lord of the Rings came to mind and a scene in which Frodo approaches Gandalf in the mines of Moria and says, "Something is following us." "I know," says Gandalf, "its Gollum, he's been following us for three days." Frodo replies, "It's a pity that Bilbo didn't kill the vile creature when he had the chance." Gandalf turns to Frodo and says, "Pity, it was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Some people who live deserve to die, some who die deserve to live. Can you give it to them Fordo? Don't be so eager to deal out death and judgment, not even the very wise can see all ends. And we don't know what part Gollum has yet to play in all of this. There are other forces at work in this world besides the will of evil, there is also good." (paraphrased)

The two cases I put before you were that of a man named Saul of Tarsus, later to become St. Paul, the greatest missionary in the Church. First a man who condemned Christians, putting them to death via kangaroo trials, then later giving everything he had even his own life in proclaiming the mercies of God.

The second person was that of a young boy named David born in Bethlehem, later to become King of Israel, a man who committed adultery, murder, and other acts of grave sin, and still a man who repented, and was found to be after God's own heart. Now recognized as one of the world's greatest rulers in the annals of history.

Lesson: Don't be so eager to deal out death and judgment, some who live deserve to die, while some who die deserve to live- can you give it to them?

Fr. John