wfn.org | AFSC: Concerning Death Penalty for Timothy McVeigh

[RByler@afsc.org]

"We affirm that there is no justification for taking the life of any man or
woman for any reason . . . every person has value in the eyes of God."
Board of Directors (1976)
American Friends Service Committee

Religious and Moral Leaders Must Speak Out 
Against the Death Penalty for Timothy McVeigh
June 10, 1997

	The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the murder of 168 people are
unfathomable.  The staunchest death penalty opponents among us are
questioning what would cause a person to be involved in such a heinous
crime.  In the case of the convicted Timothy McVeigh, what can be done with
someone who has had so little regard for human life?

	In light of the growing call for vengeance, religious and moral leaders
must speak out against the death penalty for Timothy McVeigh.  

	Timothy McVeigh was convicted of bombing the federal building in Oklahoma
City, an act he allegedly committed in retaliation for the government's
bombing at Waco, Texas.  If McVeigh receives the death penalty, he becomes a
martyr for many fringe groups who are also at odds with the federal
government, potentially setting the stage for more violence, not less.  The
federal government can stem this cycle of violence by refusing to escalate
or perpetuate it.

	For far too long, the death penalty has been touted as a gift to victim
family members.  But the death penalty does not provide healing and closure,
because that is something that must come from within.

	In reality, the convictions of the Timothy McVeighs are the litmus tests
for those who are opposed to state-sanctioned murder and for those who value
life.  This is not an easy case.  Many of the usual arguments for the
abolition of the death penalty, such as inherent racism and the
arbitrariness of its application, simply do not apply.

	As religious and moral leaders, it's time for us to state emphatically that
the death penalty should never be an option.  From the Oklahoma City
tragedy, we gain an opportunity to wrestle with evil and prevail.  Even when
something as horrendous as the malicious murder of 168 people occurs, we
must still recognize the value of every person's life and continue to live
our lives seeking the best in ourselves and each other.

The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that
includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace
and humanitarian service.  Its work is based on the Quaker belief in the
worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence
and injustice.

J.Ron Byler
Director of Media Relations
American Friends Service Committee
PH: 215/241-7060
FAX: 215/241-7275
E-MAIL: RByler@afsc.org
http://www.afsc.org