The death penalty is controversial because people disagree about whether the capital punishment system serves justice appropriately. There is no manner in which to agree upon this because everyone's concept of justice varies along with each individual's sense of morality. According to Keenan's book Moral Wisdom "Conscience 'dictates' that we pursuit justice" (35). Therefore, those people that support the death penalty believe in their conscience that it is justice to make a person who has committed a crime of exceptionally high degree to be sentenced to death. However, Keenan notes that conscience can be erroneous, and what matters is what a person's motivation is during the course of moral decision making. The entire concept of the capital punishment system is malicious in that it carries vindictive sentiments towards another individual. As an opponent of the death penalty, I will have to say that I look towards Jesus in the New Testament as a guide in how we as Catholics should follow Him in the moral decisions that we make each day.
Keenan describes Jesus' three greatest virtues as being loving, obedient of God's will, and merciful. If anything, the death penalty contradicts all three of these virtues. A supporter of capital punishment may say that the sentence is justice done in love for the victim and the victim's family. This "love" is negated with the hateful sentiments towards the criminal. The anger that it arouses detains people from being merciful, which is significant in that mercy is what distinguishes Christianity from other religions. As to whether or not taking a life is obedient to God's will, I cannot say because I do not know the answer to that. I think that it is condescending for human beings to assume that they do know the answer and therefore believe that it is acceptable to determine a value of a person's life. I think that only God Himself can determine what the value of a life is and therefore it should be put in His hands whether to end it, however, I do believe that we all share a sense that the criminal has to repent as it is also a significant aspect of our faith. This is why I believe in the alternative of life imprisonment because it is still a manner of protecting our citizens and it allows us to abide by our faith, which encourages us to believe, hope, and love.