Carol Fennelly

In the following viewpoint, Carol Fennelly maintains that capital punishment is about revenge rather than justice. In her view, capital punishment appeals to a cruel “get tough on crime mindset” and ignores the nobler goal of rehabilitating criminals. She observes that although the execution of Karla Faye Tucker changed the views of some religious leaders who had earlier advocated the death penalty, the majority of Americans continue to support capital punishment. According to Fennelly, the United States as a whole has yet to prove it has ended its desire for revenge. Fennelly is the director of communication for Sojourners, a progressive Christian magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What are some of the criticisms of the United States that appeared in a U.N. Human Rights Commission report?
2. How many executions took place in the...