Applying death-penalty protocol to minors' cases

Published March 11, 200 - Glendale News-Press IN THEORY Applying death-penalty protocol to minors' cases Q: Do you agree with last week's Supreme Court decision declaring that it was unconstitutional to execute a person younger than 18 when the crime was committed? How does this jibe, or not, with the biblical reference in Exodus, an " ... eye for an eye, tooth for tooth ... "? A: Let's leave the constitutionality of the decision to the court and as religious leaders address the issue of a society that is willing to kill children. Life, as small and insignificant as it may seem to some, is a miracle and precious nevertheless. On religious grounds, there are no arguments for the death penalty, neither for children nor for adults. The Supreme Court's decision is the first step in many to abolish capital punishment. As a religious community, we must use this court decision to address the bigger issues in our society. Why should children be in court in the first place? Why are children committing these heinous crimes and resorting to violence? And more importantly, once analyzed, find means of rectification. In our own backyard, youth violence is certainly a hot topic. Yet with a majority of the school board up for election in less than a month, are we looking into ethnic tensions and truancy in our schools? It seems as if the vote will be decided on what color and how many signs a candidate can slap across a gas station entrance rather than what a candidate can do to improve the system and thereby the quality of life for our children. Do we understand that the only way to prevent future children from facing death -- whether by gunshot on the street, by a dropped bomb in war, or by lethal injection in prison -- must begin with our conscious decision to promote and propagate love? The churches, temples, synagogues and all faith centers have the ultimate answer for the death penalty. It's called love and compassion. It comes freely from the creator, and we are asked to share it, especially with our children. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN St. Peter Armenian Church & Youth Ministries' Center