What is Santorum's position on the death penalty?

[thucythucy]

My understanding is that the Catholic Church is absolutely opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances, just as it's opposed to contraception and abortion and equal access to marriage.

Santorum needs to be asked this outright.

If he supports the death penalty, how does he justify opposing the Catholic Bishops and the Pope on this one issue out of all others? And if he can veer from the Church on this one issue, why is it then so wrong to veer from it on others, as many Catholics do when it comes to birth control, abortion, and gay rights?

If he's opposed (as he should be, as a "devout Catholic&quot he'll end up losing at least some support among the Teabaggers. And would he use the pardon power of the presidency to ensure no executions happen during his term?

I think it would be interesting to hear him spin on this one.

[sharp_stick]

1. The contortions that "good Catholics"

go through to support the death penalty are a sight to behold. I would really like to see Santorum's attempt at it and hope someone asks him and continues to harp on it until that narrow eyed asshole actually comes up with an answer.

[bowens43]

2. Great question.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Found this for you......

http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Santorum/Capital-Punishment.php

Santorum position on Capital Punishment

Santorum has not broached the subject publicly for six years and counting. However, the last time he spoke about capital punishment, we found Santorum uncharacteristically divided on the issue.

“I felt very troubled about cases where someone may have been convicted wrongly. DNA evidence definitely should be used when possible. I agree with the pope that in the civilized world ... the application of the death penalty should be limited. I would definitely agree with that. I would certainly suggest there probably should be some further limits on what we use it for.”
March 22, 2005, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[spanone]

4. in other words...he can set his faith aside when it comes to killing another human being.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. And he even admits DNA might be science?

[thucythucy]

7. "...the application of the death penalty should be limited"

but not ruled out entirely? But abortion is wrong, always, forever, absolutely, no exceptions ever, even in cases of rape, incest, fetal inviability, or the health of the mother?

Just as I suspected. If Santorum ends up as the GOP candidate, I hope Democrats pound him on this. His waffling on all this will make Romney look like a pillar of consistency.

Bonus questions: Should Catholics be required to pay for executions through their taxes, even if it violates their religious principles? If so, why all the fuss on contraception? If not, will Santorum use the power of the presidency to ensure that people of faith are exempted from paying taxes that go toward capital punishment?

The more this man talks about his faith, the better. He is clearly out of step with the majority of Catholics, and the vast majority of the electorate.

[libtodeath]

6. That

poor people die as quickly as possible.

[Odin2005]

8. The church should excommunicate him if he supports the DP, Right?

[HopeHoops]

9. Hopefully self-imposed.