with real healing? In the publicity and ritual surrounding a trial, appeal and execution, a victim's family and friends often become a public spectacle. They are subjected to frequent indignities and damaging publicity at the time of the trial. Healing is retarded as they are dragged through the experience again, usually years later, at the time of appeal and execution. The ritual of the death penalty takes precedence over the ritual of mourning and remembrance. The offender receives attention and concern while the needs of the victim's survivors are overlooked. As the member of one murder victim's family has said, "Would it not be better if we spent more time and energy mourning the death and remembering the life? "When we concentrate on the killer to the exclusion of the victims, do we not wound our sense of humanity? . . . And most importantly, what are we teaching our children about the value of human life?" In general, the death penalty process would seem to hinder, not encourage, healing of individuals as well as of society at large. None of us can assume that the answers are easy. We all -- proponents as well as opponents of the death penalty -- must confess our frequent insensitivity to the needs of victims and their families. We must acknowledge that we all have been guilty of using victims to further our own arguments. We must search together for ways to take victims seriously. Without resolution of these needs, we should not be surprised when victims' families express extreme anger, frustration and even vindictiveness. A Biblical Perspective So far we have analyzed the death penalty in secular and largely utilitarian terms. We now need to consider the issue from a Christian perspective. What does the Old Testament say about capital punishment? Supporters of the death penalty frequently cite the Old Testament to justify their position, so it is logical to look at the Old Testament first. Yet it is important to keep in mind tha...
