I’ve been ambivalent about the death penalty for a while. On the one hand, if the state has the authority to punish criminals at all – and most would agree it has – why should it not demand the ultimate penalty for the ultimate crime?

Alternately, perhaps murderers should be given more time to repent of their crimes and receive salvation through Christ. Of course, as Dr. Johnson observed, the prospect of being hanged in the morning concentrates the mind wonderfully, so a convict’s imminent demise might turn out to be his best friend.

And then there is the possibility of a judicial mistake.

The Episcopal Church is attempting to aid me in my indecision: its leaders are agitating against the death penalty. A sure sign that there must be some merit in it.

From here:

The Episcopal Church officially has opposed the death penalty for more than half a century, and its advocacy is gaining traction as momentum builds across the country to end capital punishment. Bishops and other church leaders are writing letters, joining coalitions, testifying before legislators and publicly demonstrating their opposition to the death penalty.

But now, having just taken a dip in the crystal waters of the Adriatic, I am going to stroll along its shores to the ancient town of Hvar, stop at a cafe, sample the local wine and ponder no more the vacuity of contemporary Episcopal neologisms.