Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty

Patriarch Kirill. Photo: nv.ua

The Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, stated that the Lord Jesus Christ did not condemn the death penalty, even though He Himself was undeservedly subjected to it, reports the press service of the Moscow Patriarchate. He emphasized that there is no direct prohibition of the death penalty in the Holy Scriptures.

He pointed out that the death penalty is not condemned in the Holy Scriptures. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was unlawfully sentenced to death, and yet the holy apostles did not say, "After such injustice, after our Lord Jesus Christ was subjected to the death penalty, we must proclaim that it is terrible and a sin to subject another person to punishment through the ending of life." Nowhere was anything like this mentioned.

Therefore, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church continued, "In my view, it would be ideal if there were no reasons for the death penalty. But the Church has never insisted that this punishment must be abolished – precisely based on the words of the Apostle Paul: 'Remove the wicked from among you.'"

Previously, the Union of Orthodox Journalists examined the Christian attitude towards the death penalty.

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