Death Penalty Focus 3.2.07
WESTMINSTER PULPIT
The Rev. Dr. David Thompson
March 2, 2007 “Death Penalty Focus Award Speech” Death Penalty Focus Group
(The award was given to Dr. Thompson by the Death Penalty Focus Group "For courageously speaking the truth with passion and kindness, and consistent leadership in opposing the death penalty.")
I want first of all to thank those who have honored me this night, especially those here who, day in and day out, year in and year out, do all they can to get the death penalty abolished here in California. I am sure that the God of mercy found in Hebrew, Muslim and Christian traditions is with you in this endeavor. Indeed all people of mercy and faith across the world in every nation stand with you in solidarity tonight. The death penalty, which was administered across the world in the past for adultery or even for stealing a piece of bread, is in its own death throws across this planet. We will succeed in this in California. It is only a matter of time.
In tribal cultures it was received dogma that morality consisted of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Originally promulgated to limit violence it has come to be used to justify violence. It is alive and well in the Middle East as the Israeli Government and Palestinians returns violence for violence in what has become an endless cycle.
We cannot truthfully say we are preserving life when we allow the state to take life. Every time we execute someone we send a message. The message is there are occasions when it is all right to take life. And that message goes from the top of the moral system to the bottom. It is never right to take a life in civil society. When this does occur from violent crime, drugs, robbery or the aftermath of rape, there is no way to bring that life back again. Taking the life of the person who took the life is no solution. Why? Because taking life even when life has been taken is to put at the top of the value system VENGEANCE as the highest moral value. Further when we allow relatives of the victims to witness the death of the murderer we send a message that this is how we get closure. But closure does not come that way. Vengeance is satisfied but closure evades us.
Why? Because closure only comes with forgiveness. I had enormous respect for the last Pope when he went into the jail cell of his assassin and forgave him. In that the pope was like Jesus Christ. He was also wise because he set the burden down.
What we need to do is break the cycle of “an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth.” We need to put mercy where it belongs, at the very top of our judicial system. If we at the state level act in the same way as those who take life by taking life ourselves we become the thing we hate. We set up cycles of vengeance instead of reverence for life. Life needs to become for us so precious that never under any circumstances will we take life except in defense of life itself.
The death penalty is supremely immoral, fundamentally flawed. It is not justice. It is vengeance. And vengeance cycles to infinity.
Why don’t we politicize forgiveness, taking it out of the comfort of our faith communities into the body politic? Why don’t we politicize mercy? Why don’t we rehabilitate people who have committed murder? ‘Tookie’ Williams showed us how, as did Karla Faye Tucker. There is such a thing as a change of heart. What a story it will make when Californians have a change of heart about the death penalty, when Californians come to understand “that the quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.” Let that be California! “It is twice blessed: It blesses him that gives it and him that takes. T’is mightiest in the mightiest.” Oh mighty California- did you but know this! “Mercy is enthroned in the heart of kings” and Governors who grant clemency; “it is an attribute of God himself; and earthly power doth then show like God’s when mercy seasons justice.”
May God bless you all!