As far the story goes, I wouldn’t presume to say how society should deal with murderers. Fortunately, Blessed John Paul II made the Church’s position quite clear in his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, §56, which says, in part: “…the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.” He’s saying, as I understand it, that society would be protected just as well by life imprisonment. So, in this case, I believe the Church would suggest that Richard Stokley should be locked up for the rest of his life.

I’m a father, and I can’t imagine what I’d do if someone did so heinous to my child. But I believe the Church calls us to curb our desire for vengeance and replace it with mercy. Our August editorial addresses this issue as well: “Opposed to the death penalty.”

What I find particularly striking is the prevalence of mental illness in the six men who were executed by the state of Arizona this year. I’m also perplexed that the co-defendants in these capital cases are free men. The co-defendants, from what I gather from my research, could well be more dangerous than the men who were executed.

I feel this is an inadequate response to your poignant question, Mr. Oskar. I hope others who know much more than I do about this issue will take the time to respond as well. I think it’s more complicated than we like to admit.