CAPITAL PUNISHMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH

Christians argue both for and against the death penalty using
secular arguments but like other religious people they often make an
additional case based on the tenets of their faith.
For much of history, the Christian Churches accepted that capital
punishment was a necessary part of the mechanisms of society.
Below are a list of reasons for and against capital punishment.

Only God should create and destroy life

This argument is used to oppose abortion and euthanasia as well.
Many Christians believe that God commanded "Thou shalt not kill"
(Exodus 21:13), and that this is a clear instruction with no
exceptions.
God authorises the death penalty
St. Augustine
According to St. Augustine (from The City of God, Book 1, Chapter
21):

The same divine authority that forbids the killing of a human being
establishes certain exceptions, as when God authorizes killing by a
general law or when He gives an explicit commission to an individual
for a limited time.
The agent who executes the killing does not commit homicide; he is
an instrument as is the sword with which he cuts. Therefore, it is in
no way contrary to the commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill' to wage
war at God's bidding, or for the representatives of public authority
to put criminals to death, according to the law, that is, the will of
the most just reason.

Christians who support the death penalty often do so on the ground

that the state acts not on its own authority but as the agent of God,
who does have legal power over life and death.
The Bible says it is allowed
In Matthew 7:2 we read "Whatever measure you deal out to others
will be dealt back to you", though this is unspecific as to whether it
is God who is doing the dealing, or the state.
Jesus never denied not using capital punishment
Despite the fact that Jesus himself refrains from using violence,
he at no point denies the state's authority to exact capital
punishment.
Only God should create and destroy life
This argument is used to oppose abortion and euthanasia as well.
Many Christians believe that God commanded "Thou shalt not kill"
(Exodus 21:13), and that this is a clear instruction with no
exceptions.
Capital punishment is like suicide
This argument is that the criminal, by choosing to commit a
particular crime has also chosen to surrender his life to the state if
caught.
Pope Pius XII said:

Even when there is question of the execution of a condemned man,

the State does not dispose of the individual's right to life. In this
case it is reserved to the public power to deprive the condemned
person of the enjoyment of life in expiation of his crime when, by
his crime, he has already dispossessed himself of his right to life

 The Bibles teaching is inconsistent

The Bible speaks in favour of the death penalty for murder. But it
also prescribes it for 35 other crimes that we no longer regard as
deserving the death penalty. In order to be consistent, humanity
should remove the death penalty for murder.
Secondly, modern society has alternative punishments available
which were not used in Biblical times, and these make the death
penalty unnecessary.
Christianity is based on forgiveness and compassion
Capital punishment is incompatible with a teaching that encourages
forgiveness and compassion.

Questions:
What are the arguments for the death penalty?

What are the arguments against the death penalty?