FR Tim Harris is absolutely right in highlighting the inconsistency in Australia’s position on the death penalty (Page 5).
We cannot say we are opposed to the death penalty, and then start calling for exceptions when it suits us.
As Fr Harris says, this only undermines our argument against capital punishment.
One commentator interviewed after the execution of the Bali bombers last weekend said he thought Australians would generally be happy about the executions, and then in the next breath said he thought Australians were generally against the death penalty.
It doesn’t make sense.
Is that really what Australians believe?