Based in UU's first principle, the death penalty is indefensible and yet is still on the law books in 30 States.

America Magazine, in its April 29, 2019 issue, has an editorial entitled, "At its core, the death penalty is indefensible."

"In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California imposed a moratorium on the use of capital punishment in that state, which has the highest population on death row (737 inmates) in the Western Hemisphere. The Democrat also ordered the dismantling of the state’s gas chamber; any future governor who seeks to restart the execution process will have the grisly task of procuring the equipment to do it."

In another place it is written, "Mr. Newsom has recognized this futility. “Our death penalty system has been, by all measures, a failure,” the governor said in March. “It has provided no public safety benefit or value as a deterrent.” Pope Francis went further when he revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church on this point last summer, declaring that the death penalty “is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”

Pope Francis has banned the death penalty as a legitimate criminal justice sentence and activity last year declaring that it violates the inherent worth and dignity of every person which is the first principle of Unitarian Universalism. Has the UUA and all UU congregations also taken a public stand againts the death penalty?

There are 30 states where the death penalty is still in their law books.

For more information about the death penalty click here.