These systems are designed and operated by humans. Mistakes will be made that will result in the deaths of innocents whether you want this to happen or not. It's also irrelevant whether you find out about a mistake or not because willful ignorance does not cause perfection. Could I give you a number that I would find acceptable? Of course not. I can only state that the standard of care should be very high to minimize the possiblity and that the system should be continuously scrutinized for imperfections. At the moment I find the system vastly inadequate for most situations and that there is an extreme aversion to critical review, both of which I find unacceptable. IMO, I think you're deluding yourself. You probably see yourself as a good guy who could never accept an innocent being put to death. To reconcile your position on the death penalty and your good guy status, you simply assume that only guilty people could be on death row. Don't you see the absurdity of what you wrote above: "I do think the judiciary and the criminal justice system is a joke and I will agree with you on the death penalty and do think the system is inadequate." Yet you can't see how anyone could be put on death row if they weren't guilty. Why would the imperfect system produce perfect results? Am I for the legalization of euthanasia? In principle, yes I am. Specifically? Depends on the particulars of the proposal. There must be a high standard of care (that I find acceptable) and be open to continuous scrutiny.
The death penalty is acceptable from a moral standpoint at times. In cases of extreme crime when no other means of punnishment is possible, the death penalty is ok. Euthanasia and for that matter abortion are robbing the lives of innocents. There is a difference. No hypocricy in being for one and against the other.
Doesn't that go against the teachings of your religion? I thought the Catholic Church opposed the death penalty system in the US?
The opinion of the Pope and the Magisterium, along with the CDF is neither infallible nor compulsory as it pertains to temporal matters such as abortion, birth control and the death penalty.
The reason the Church opposes the death penalty is because we have means to protect society without imposing death. The Church has never taught that the state does not have the right to execute. It just asks them not to in todays society. On aboortion and contraception the church has always taught that these things are morally wrong. Through consistant and doctrine they are infallibly accepted though not explicitly defined. Items are only defined when they come into question. The teachings on contraception and abortion never really have.
Infallibility only applies to dogma. As such: Jesus died and was resurrected; Mary is the virgin mother of Jesus and was conceived via the Holy Spirit; The consecrated host and wine becomes, literally and figuratively the body and blood of Jesus Christ; etc... However, from http://www.catholicconcerns.com/Infallibility.html This is just one of the reasons why I reject Catholicism.
This probably belongs on the other thread but inafalibility applies to any mater of faith and morals and not just dogma. The Catholic concerns site is filled with omissions misunderstandings and flat lies. I would not use it as a source for anything. It is more than likely wrong.
I have done other independent research, but that site gives it all out on one page. Based simply on the Vatican II council's new ecumenical proclamations as compared to the historical dogma that "one cannot achieve salvation outside the Catholic Church" infallibility falls down dead. What more can I say on the subject? It's been clearly proven.
Vatican II changed church practices and disciplines. It did not change any fundamental teachings of the Church. You do not understand Catholism.
1) I totally agree with your first paragraph partly because the people who run the system are too arrogant or ignorant. They don't want anyone looking over their shoulder or questioning their decisions. In other words, Like other areas of the government, they like the status quo and don't want changes. 2) Deluding myself? Maybe? The system isn't perfect but I would think they would have to have strong evidence for someone to be put on death row. Do I think innocent people can be put to death? yes. 3) Absurd, no, I wasn't talking about this specific topic for the whole sentence. When I say that the system is a joke I wasn't talking about the death penalty, I was talking about the over crowded prisons and all the repeat offenders killing and raping children and adults. They should be in jail and not on the streets. We have people supposedly on death row when in reality it is only life in prison. We have pedophiles running the streets that refused to take rehab classes in prison yet they are released into society. The system doesn't want to be fixed either for reasons in point 1. Euthanasia, you say in principle yes, well, You talk about high standards? From what we talk about above, how would the standards ever be high enough or right for Euthanasia? NEVER, IMHO.... 1) We live in a capitalist society, look at the abortion industry for example. It is too easy for people to get an abortion, cheaper by the year too! http://www.tigerforums.com/showthread.php?p=278168#post278168 2) Alot of laws and systems are invented in this country for the right reasons but after some time it dilutes society and other boundaries fall by the wayside. One of the latest, the seatbelt law, You can't get pulled over for not wearing one but you can be ticketed for that if you do something wrong. Well, now they are trying to change that so that you can be ticketed for that alone. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200312\NAT20031210a.html In closing, How many things do we see start off as a moderate law, etc. and then goes way too far? Abortion, politcal correctness, sexual harrassment, 6 yr olds in school? People will always take advantage of every situation! The boundaries of Euthanasia are already falling by the wayside.http://www.independentliving.org/docs5/Wolbringeuthanasia.html
