Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself
Yet another reason why I'm in favor of the death penalty
It really is quite simple... if I should ever happen to kidnap, rape, sodomize, sexually torture and eventually murder my neighbor's child, I would fully expect to be arrested, tried, convicted and be put to death.
Now I happen to hold myself to some pretty basic standards. With that said, if I REALLY love my neighbor as myself, if he were to ever do such a horrid thing, I most certainly would expect the same punishment for him.
That's not so hard to figure out, is it?
But "expecting" and "wanting" are not the same thing.
ReplyDeleteAs a devout Catholic, I expect sometimes to be looked at with derision/contempt/mockery.
It does not follow then, that in loving my neighbor as myself, I would support his being looked at with derision/contempt/mockery.
(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)
Scaleta,
ReplyDeleteAnd your point is? And where did I use the word "wanting"? I did, however, use the word "expect" twice.
You see, I most certainly do expect that my generic "neighbor" (everyone) to be held to the same standard that I hold for myself.
Isn't that exactly what "love thy neighbor as thyself means?
BTW, you were pointing how others look upon your neighbor... I was pointing to how I look upon him. Big difference.
The thing I find most distressing about your position is that you shorten any chance of repentance and redemption for the perpetrator. We are called to charity, not vengeance; vengeance is God's alone. All things are possible with God.
ReplyDeleteArkanabar,
ReplyDeleteThe thing I find most distressing about your position is that you are placing a man-made time constraint on the Power of The Holy Ghost.
Also, I fail to see where I'm asking for "vengeance". What I seel is justice. If I'm wrong, then The Catholic Church has also had it wrong for the past 2,000 years.
I'd like to remind you of the words of St Didacus as he refuted The Bad Thief on Calvalry; "This Man (Jesus) has done no wrong, but we are getting what we deserve..."