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Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 1305

Faith Q&A › Catechism › 9. Christian Faith and Social and Familial Relationships

What is Christian view of judicial rulings against the innocent and the guilty?

The answer

St. Augustine (354–430 A. D.) believes that neither the judge who imposes the death penalty justly according to the law, nor the person who carries out this sentence, is committing murder.

St. Augustine also treats the conundrum of a Christian judge who sentences an accused person to death, not realizing that the accused is actually innocent and has been treated unjustly, and that the case against him was built on false testimony. He says that so long as the judge was not negligent, did everything possible to find the truth, and bears no personal animosity towards the accused, he bears no blame in this situation, for he did what he had to do. Thus, he should always cry out to God: “From my necessities deliver me” (cf. Ps 25:17).1001

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Notes

1001 St. Augustine of Hippo, City of God 19.6 (NPNF I/1:405).

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volumes 1 and 2, Books 1–7. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.