Bishop Blase Cupich of the diocese of Rapid City wrote the following on January 31, 2007 which was subsequently printed on February 3, 2007 in the Rapid City Journal.
“… our elected representatives are debating the issues of abortion and the death penalty. Without question, the moral weight of these two matters differs greatly, since abortion involves the taking of innocent human life without any regard for due process. Yet, the convergence of these debates provides us with an opportunity to recognize how these two issues rest on the common claim that the right to life is universal and God-given. The assertion that every human life has an inherent and inalienable value will only be strengthened if we as a state apply this principle to the morality of defending both convicted criminals and the lives of the unborn.
“Even if it does not intend to do so, a state that opts for the use of the death penalty inevitably weakens the ability of its citizens to defend the sacredness of human life….” — Bishop Blase Cupich
Read the entire episcopal letter at: rapidcitydiocese.org/Bishop/Documents/CapitalPunishmentandAbortion.swf
