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Can Ariel Castro be convicted of murder by acts that led to the termination of pregnancy?
The kidnapping of the three girls in Cleveland, OH has many people's attention. I know many are praying that the now young ladies can recover from the horrendous experiences they shared over the last nine years. Now, additional information is surfacing about the pregnancies of at least one of the young ladies, Michelle, who is saying that she was impregnated five times and then starved and beaten to end the lives of those babies. Can Castro be convicted of murder for the termination of these lives? Apparently he can be - in Ohio anyway. That, of course, will lead to the question of pr0-lifers (of which I am one) that believe it is murder every time a baby's life is ended by what many just term an abortion. The word "abortion" for this procedure is an extremely lacking description. What do you think? Is Castro guilty of murder?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RoyW on
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The Bible condemns the killing of the innocent and requires the execution of those who commit certain crimes as already listed on this site. However, Grazer, at one time you told me that you really did not believe in the Old Testament. A discussion of this type will never be agreed upon when one person believes in a literal interpretation of Scripture while the other does not. It is a simple question to pose to a person that believes literally in Scripture. God condemns the one and requires the other. It is that simple.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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The way I have come to terms with the death penalty is that there is a difference between it and murder. Murder is the unlawful killing of another individual, while the death penalty is lawful. The law of Moses was given by God and contained the death penalty. In the NT the death penalty was still being instituted. I believe Saint Paul received it and submitted to it. He didn't deserve it but it was the law of the land. God allowed it. Hell is enough to tell me how God feels about the death penalty for lawbreakers.
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Grazer - The bible is for the death penalty and the bible is against the killing of the unborn, so what is confusing or contradicting to you about that? I can care less what the government thinks when it goes against the word of God, nor do I seek for the government to carry or not carry the death penalty. I don't care either way. Let the dead take care of the dead. My commandment is to feed the sheep.
Of course I care about the dead, but not in any way that depresses me or deters me from God's will for me, the living. I care that the dead come to life, but don't care to change their laws as my goal in life. We pray and vote and that's it.
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Permalink Reply by Grazer #E2H on
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But you have yet to show where the Bible is for the death penalty, and certainly failed to show where Jesus is for it. I don't see him being in favor of either
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:0) Grazer,
I have posted the verses a couple of times already in this discussion. New Testament verses. If the bible is for the death penalty than obviously knockle head Jesus is for it. Goodness dude, do i have to slap you over your head with them hahaha J/k man, don't go getting all sensitive on me. haha
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Let me add a couple:
Ecclesiastes 8:11 ESV
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
Exodus 21:16 ESV
“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
I am also opposed to slavery as well as kidnapping. As LT says below, sometimes mercy is warranted. I am very thankful that God showed me great mercy and I believe He will show mercy to anyone that comes to Him for forgiveness. Yet, if that person has committed a crime against society such as murder or kidnapping, he should be severely punished and swiftly. Jesus could have saved the thief on the cross from physical death but chose to save him spiritually while allowing him to pay for the crime he had committed against society. Jesus did not object to capital punishment being dished out to the two that were with him on the cross. Even then, as evil of a crime as the man had apparently committed, He saved him from eternal death and granted him eternal life.
Paul, when facing trial, quickly said that if he had committed a crime deserving of death, it would be right for that death penalty to take place. However, he did not feel he had committed such an act and appealed for a fair trial. Of course, later he was executed wrongly. I think I would be willing to pull the switch as God's agent but would do everything possible to get the person to turn his heart to God before pulling it.
The society that has the death penalty should be one that is close to God. They should not be frivolous with killing the criminal less they mistakenly kill an innocent person. The Romans were evil executing persons for their Christian faith. Yet, God used that to break open a revival that went for years consuming the world with the message of Jesus Christ.
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Though I believe the death penalty is permissible I do not think it is prudent (I will admit I have waffled on this subject over the years). Not speaking to the past, but focusing on today. While in prison and as long as there is breath in the body there is a chance, no matter how minute, that one may come to repentance. We know that ultimately God is the judge of the eternal soul and at the same time He desires all to come to repentance even though He knows not all will. We do not know who will and who will not come to repentance. What we do know is that once the switch is flipped and breath leaves the body their eternal destiny is sealed, or at least there is no further opportunity afforded them regardless of a Calvin or Arminian view. Now I know that we can get into a deep theological discussion about the time of one’s death and God knowing our days, etc … and I really don’t want to go there on this topic. Thus, I ask myself if I would ever be comfortable in being the one that seals the destiny of another.
Let me put it another way focusing on two things. 1) Can I look myself in the mirror and be satisfied that I pulled the switch that sealed (because I do not know if the person would come to the Lord or not) their eternal fate? Can I live with the fact that I sentenced the person to hell for eternity removing any future opportunity to repent? 2) What is my motivation for executing the death penalty? Is it revenge, anger or simply because I think it is the will of God?
Note: murder, self-defense, capital punishment, war time killing and accidental death are different issues.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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Thanks LT. This is kinda what I was trying to say but of course, since you're The Man, u said it better. I would hate to think I was taking that last chance of redemption from them. But, on the flip side, if they were going to accept His invitation, He would fulfill His ultimate purpose regardless of my actions. So, I go back & forth with this.
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This subject is really quite complex. There is no easy answer in my opinion.
Lord Bless,
LT
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