By Alessandro Speciale, La Stampa
Catholic, and supporting capital punishment: it would seem to be a paradox, but – unlike those who favor the legalization of abortion – there are many, especially on the other side of the Atlantic, who publicly support the death penalty while at the same time proclaiming faith in the Roman Church. There is the case, for example, of the Republican candidate seeking the White House, the newly-converted-to-Catholicism Newt Gingrich, who wants to immediately enlarge the number of crimes punishable by death, including drug dealing. But, after the last few weeks in which Pope Benedict XVI clearly came out in support of definitively abolishing capital punishment, the space for positions like this appears to be growing ever smaller.