Sean Major-Campbell | Honouring God with a live execution?

What is your gut feeling about Nidal Hassan who gunned down 13 people in 2009? Different people may have different concerns. Some may be okay with the death penalty. Some, though in agreement, may however be concerned about the entertainment spectacle being considered.

Many have a strong leaning for vengeance. They wonder, why should such a heartless and cruel agent of several murders be even allowed to live. We should not be surprised that many Christians stand with President Donald Trump in this matter.

Robert Jeffress, pastor of Mega Church First Baptist of Dallas, has stated his support for the Pentagon’s decision to livestream the execution on his Facebook page, stating, “Capital punishment is commanded by God in Genesis 9:6 to remind people of the sanctity of human life. The more people that can see that truth illustrated through a public execution, the better.”

Who else plans on enjoying the livestream of the anticipated Nidal execution? Will your church be having a watch party? Would you stand with your pastor if this position is advanced in a sermon?

Is Pope Leo XIV, irrelevant in seeking to advance the notion of the inherent dignity of the human being? Is there still a place for such arguments in today’s world? Given the increasing regard for artificial intelligence, is there still a place for affirming human dignity?

According to the Pope, “The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment. Effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.”

What do you make of the Pontiff’s statement? Can the common good really be safeguarded and the requirements of justice met without doing capital punishment? How do you respond? And have effective systems of detention been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption?

Anglican Watch, unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church maintains, “ Let’s be clear about something: Hasan committed horrific crimes. Nothing we say here should be construed as minimising the suffering of his victims, their families, or the survivors who continue to live with the consequences of his actions.

“But turning his execution into a public spectacle is morally indefensible. And the prospect of the United States government deliberately broadcasting the killing of a human being raises profound questions about our national character, our treatment of children, and our willingness to abandon fundamental principles of human dignity.”

Is capital punishment commanded by God? And should there be a return to an eye for an eye, if we are serious about following the Bible? Or is it that people evolve in their understanding about God, humanity, and the sanctity of life? Anglican Watch also notes, “As a faith-based watchdog organisation, Anglican Watch believes that human life possesses inherent dignity, even when the person in question has committed terrible crimes. That dignity is not contingent upon good behaviour. Nor does it disappear when someone is convicted of murder.”

Some will also recall Mahatma Ghandi’s, “The old law, an eye for an eye, leaves everyone blind.”

Some Christians believe then that God and God’s word are honoured by live streaming an execution. Others believe that not even execution itself is consistent with a more highly evolved humanity. Still others believe that vengeance must be carried out and this can only mean blood for blood. What do you think?

Then there is a meme by Rev Dr Mark Sandlin, doing the social media rounds. It states that, “Nothing says ‘pro-life’ quite like celebrating a televised execution.”

There is another view from political commentator Lauren Chen who observes, “I saw Charlie Kirk and Iryna Zarutska lose their lives on camera. Televised deaths are nothing new. But this time the circumstances were different.” This she said in support of the intended televised execution of Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan.

That the ‘pro-life’ community anticipates, applauds, and advances the call for a televised execution has left some Christians and atheists appalled. We live in a world where increasingly we see that stereotyping a religious or non-religious group is not wisdom. Religion does not give one morality.

Both religious folks and atheists have the capacity for engagement of legal and ethical considerations. Some therefore unite on a view that such considerations prevent justice from being reduced to raw emotion while advancing state accountability and protecting the basic dignity of humanity. Would you or your group choose sides as to whether there should be protection for public morality and human dignity or freedom for vengeance and blood?

Does choosing public morality and human dignity necessarily mean taking sides with the guilty? Does taking sides with a mob mentality for vengeance and blood necessarily mean support for the victims of a gruesome murder? Questions help us to process in a more nuanced way that may enhance the quest for collective wisdom.

Human rights work certainly requires an intellectual leap to process the rights of all citizens when some citizens trample on the rights of others. Those who are angry, understandably may not have the capacity for such discourse in the aftermath of a mass murder situation. They therefore hear any affirmation of universal human rights and dignity as a bias for the convicted mass murderer and all such criminals.

The archbishop of Oklahoma City and president of US Catholic Bishops, Paul S. Coakley, noted in his response, “The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.” He also quoted Romans 12:17, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”

Have a good week advocating peace, love, and compassion for all.

Fr. Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@gmail.com