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Objection 1: It would seem lawful for clerics to kill evil-doers.
For clerics especially should fulfil the precept of the Apostle (1
Cor. 4:16): "Be ye followers of me as I also am of
Christ," whereby we are called upon to imitate God and His saints.
Now the very God whom we worship puts evildoers to death, according
to Ps. 135:10, "Who smote Egypt with their firstborn."
Again Moses made the Levites slay twenty-three thousand men on
account of the worship of the calf (Ex. 32), the priest Phinees
slew the Israelite who went in to the woman of Madian (Num.
25), Samuel killed Agag king of Amalec (1 Kgs. 15),
Elias slew the priests of Baal (3 Kgs. 18), Mathathias killed
the man who went up to the altar to sacrifice (1 Mach. 2); and,
in the New Testament, Peter killed Ananias and Saphira (Acts
5). Therefore it seems that even clerics may kill evil-doers.
Objection 2: Further, spiritual power is greater than the secular
and is more united to God. Now the secular power as "God's
minister" lawfully puts evil-doers to death, according to Rm.
13:4. Much more therefore may clerics, who are God's ministers
and have spiritual power, put evil-doers to death.
Objection 3: Further, whosoever lawfully accepts an office, may
lawfully exercise the functions of that office. Now it belongs to the
princely office to slay evildoers, as stated above (Article 3).
Therefore those clerics who are earthly princes may lawfully slay
malefactors.
On the contrary, It is written (1 Tim. 3:2,3): "It
behooveth ... a bishop to be without crime ... not given to wine,
no striker."
I answer that, It is unlawful for clerics to kill, for two reasons.
First, because they are chosen for the ministry of the altar, whereon
is represented the Passion of Christ slain "Who, when He was
struck did not strike" (1 Pt. 2:23). Therefore it becomes
not clerics to strike or kill: for ministers should imitate their
master, according to Ecclus. 10:2, "As the judge of the people
is himself, so also are his ministers." The other reason is because
clerics are entrusted with the ministry of the New Law, wherein no
punishment of death or of bodily maiming is appointed: wherefore they
should abstain from such things in order that they may be fitting
ministers of the New Testament.
Reply to Objection 1: God works in all things without exception
whatever is right, yet in each one according to its mode. Wherefore
everyone should imitate God in that which is specially becoming to
him. Hence, though God slays evildoers even corporally, it does not
follow that all should imitate Him in this. As regards Peter, he
did not put Ananias and Saphira to death by his own authority or with
his own hand, but published their death sentence pronounced by God.
The Priests or Levites of the Old Testament were the ministers of
the Old Law, which appointed corporal penalties, so that it was
fitting for them to slay with their own hands.
Reply to Objection 2: The ministry of clerics is concerned with
better things than corporal slayings, namely with things pertaining to
spiritual welfare, and so it is not fitting for them to meddle with
minor matters.
Reply to Objection 3: Ecclesiastical prelates accept the office of
earthly princes, not that they may inflict capital punishment
themselves, but that this may be carried into effect by others in
virtue of their authority.
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