VIEWS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27510, 3 October 1950, Page 6

VIEWS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS

PA WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. The committee believed that the reintroduction of capital punishment in New Zealand would be a retrograde step, stated the written submission of the Public Questions Committee of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, presented by the Rev. J. D Grocott of Wellington, to the Committee on Capital Punishment at its sitting this afternoon. The statement added: i “The statistical evidence on capital punishment is unreliable, since statistics are influenced by many other factors such as war and depression. It cannot be conclusively argued that the abolition of capital punishment has increased the incidence of homicide, nor is it proven that its reintroduction would be an effective deterrent or that it would satisfy the other elements of P “j “demanded that, while the criminal should suffer punishment, the punishment must be him as a human being. The com ™“ tee considers that prosecution to conviction and imprisonment are deterrents stronger than the severity of the. punishment,’’ the statement continued. “ Capital punishment denies the possibility of reform of the offender The finality of death is absolute. Finally, capital punishment fails to recognise the responsibility of society and that in every criminal there is a man who is to a greater or lesser extent sinned aS Mr nSt c“ S^ el ClS. S “Sent of the “We believe that the death penalty for murder should be reintroduced in this "and all other God-fearing countries.” After quoting a number of passages from the Scriptures, Mr Clift said “We contend that the Scriptures demand that the death sentence for murder be re-enacted into the laws of N Writmn a c n vidence presented by Mr Edward H. Dowsett on the authority of the general meeting of the Society of Friends in New Zealand stated Idat the society throughout the world han consistently opposed capital punishment as being m its very nature inadmissible in a Christian community, and, from the point of view of community well-being, not only unnecessary but also harmful. It was submitted that there was no evidence to justify the policy of “an eye for an eve” and statistics were quoted to show that the incidence of homicide and other crimes of vwlenee was 1? general not increased when the death penalty was removed and had no, been reduced when the penalty had been reintroduced. The society submitted: (1) That capital punishment is a negation of the Christian principle, being based on the assumption that the murderer is beyond reach of spiritual reclamation and unfit to live; (2) that capital punishment violates the conception of the sanctity of human life and stands condemned as an instrument in the preservation of that sanctity; (3) that it is the business of a Christian community to prevent crime and to redeem the criminal. The Parliamentary Committee adjourned until 9.30 tomorrow morning, when evidence submitted by the Society of Friends will be crossexamined.