Religion

News

Russian has enough “inner strength” not to practice death penalty, the Russian Church believes

Moscow, October 30, Interfax – The Moscow Patriarchate believes Russia should abstain from practicing death penalty.

“Certainly, it’s better not to practice death penalty: if society is strong enough to secure itself from criminality and evil will, it can be merciful to criminals and not deprive them of life,” head of the Synodal Church and Society Department Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told Interfax-Religion on Friday.

He reminded, “Russia didn’t practice death penalty in its best periods and usually such practice was directly connected with Christian outlook.”

“It’s true, the Old Testament gives direct instructions to execute certain people and the New Testament doesn’t negate death penalty either. However, Christian society is always aimed at maximum mercy, to give time for repentance even to desperate sinners and it was reflected in practice of Christian states,” the priest noted.

He expressed opinion, that “today the country has enough inner strength not to practice death penalty,” but urged to “remember that criminals should not feel themselves unpunished and operation of law should be inevitable.”

The final abolition of the death penalty was among the obligations that Russia assumed when it entered the Council of Europe. Death penalty sentences cannot be handed out in Russia until jury trials are put in place in all Russian regions under a ruling issued by the Constitutional Court. Jury trials will begin in the Chechen Republic on January 1, 2010.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Patriarch Kirill congratulates Yanukovich on election win 09 February 2010, 17:16
• Seven priests killed in car accident in Ukraine 09 February 2010, 16:09
• Kaliningrad Diocese becomes renter of 14th century order castle 09 February 2010, 15:01
• Volga-Urals Military District has more Muslims than Orthodox 09 February 2010, 14:52
• Western intellectuals embarrassed to talk about faith, renowned European journalist says 09 February 2010, 13:58
• Russian priest provides spiritual care for Hollywood staff 09 February 2010, 12:46
• PACE recognized Constantinople Patriarch’s right to be referred to as “Ecumenical” 09 February 2010, 12:05
• Large batch of extremist literature seized in Bishkek 09 February 2010, 11:49
• Envy raises pressure and breaks digestive system - the scientist 08 February 2010, 18:40
• Ukrainian archbishop hopes new Ukrainian President won’t press the Church 08 February 2010, 18:31
• Russia wins contest for land in Paris to build spiritual center there 08 February 2010, 16:06
• New St. Petersburg ombudsman not against gay pride parades 08 February 2010, 15:06
• Prosecutor General's Office gets Caucasus Emirate operations in Russia banned 08 February 2010, 14:45
• Ukrainian archbishop against confessional East-West division of Ukraine 08 February 2010, 14:30
• Laura of the Caves in Kiev hopes new President to improve Ukraine’s image 08 February 2010, 13:56
• Cultist - British national deported from Uzbekistan 08 February 2010, 10:30
• Head of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission regrets Israeli court fails to leave St. Sergius Representation 05 February 2010, 14:25
• Russian priest curates Mongol ball hockey club for 3 years 05 February 2010, 13:45
• Voronezh Diocese's Youth Department website defaced 04 February 2010, 17:11
• Metropolitan Hilarion asks priests not to refuse Orthodox and Catholic in marriage 04 February 2010, 16:45
• St. Petersburg Orthodox editor sentenced to 3 years in prison for extremism 04 February 2010, 13:47
• Angels appear on icon shown to children in Ukraine 04 February 2010, 12:54
• Police detain Karachayevo-Cherkessia Muslim leader murder suspect in Moscow 03 February 2010, 14:54
• Medieval Catholic church on fire in Ukraine 03 February 2010, 14:37
• World biggest pancake with honey to be baked on Maslenitsa in Crimea 03 February 2010, 13:20
• State, religious leaders and culture figures congratulate Patriarch Kirill on the 1st anniversary of his enthronement 03 February 2010, 12:19
• Russian Church to appoint 400 priests as military chaplains 03 February 2010, 11:05
• “Infant” Liturgy celebrated in Moscow Region 02 February 2010, 16:05
• Russian Church, Pope agree on many contemporary issues - Patriarch Kirill (updated) 02 February 2010, 16:00
• Russian Church opened 900 new parishes in 2009 02 February 2010, 15:41

Other news