December 11, 2009
Mater Dei students react to bishop’s death penalty stance
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Students in Scott Whitehouse’s class at Mater Dei High School in Evansville were asked to read and reflect on the statement of Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger in regard to the death penalty.
The witness of Mary Winnecke
Many of the 41 letters addressed to Bishop Gettelfinger and the Message also mentioned the witness given by Mary Winnecke, the mother of one of the three people murdered by Matthew “Eric” Wrinkles.
“I know that if I were in Mary Winnecke’s situation I wouldn’t have the strength and compassion she has shown for 15 years,” wrote Brad Wannemuehler. “I grew up in Holy Redeemer parish and Mary was a familiar face around the church. The forgiveness she’s given to Mr. Wrinkles is beyond anything I could ever do if I were in her shoes. . . . It’s clear to me that God is working through Mary, trying to teach us to forgive even in the most radical and hardest situations.”
Wannemuehler went on to say that Winnecke “truly is a champion in trying to abolish the death penalty, and I pray that her fight won’t stop after Eric Wrinkles is put to death.”
Craig Niemeier wrote that the Indiana bishops’ “persistence will pay off one day. I believe that people will realize that capital punishment is not worth it.” Niemeier also said he thinks that “Mary forgiving Eric will not only help her, but also help Eric.”
“Winnecke sets a great example of a Christian lifestyle,” said Liz Reis. “The more people that turn towards Jesus and his message of love, the better off we will be.”
“I was deeply touched by the compassion shown by Mary Winnecke,” said Clare Scheller.
“Being able to view the video in which Mary Winnecke spoke and discuss it in class is something that I think all high school students should have the privilege to do,” Scheller said.
Some favor death penalty
Not every student agrees with the Catholic view voiced by Pope John Paul II, who said that other means can protect society and that the reasons to resort to the death penalty are very rare, if not practically non-existent.
“I can’t say tht I am against the death penalty but I can’t say I am for it either,” wrote Michael Norman. “I am in the middle because I know that the person should be punished and I know that killing someone is wrong no matter what they did. But if someone was murdered in my family I would probably want them to die for what they have done to me and the rest of my family.”
“I feel that if a person decides that they have the right to kill someone for no reason then that person should be punished by death,” wrote Kimberly Kayser.
“I believe that capital punishment is one of the necessary evils that we have to live with,” said Matthew Stagg.
Discussion close to home
The execution of Eric Wrink-les is not an abstraction or distant situation for Mater Dei students.
“The families and friends affected by Wrinkles’ heinous act are our friends and neighbors,” said Lauren Seitz. “Who would have ever guessed that an execution of a criminal would be so closely related to our lives?”
Seitz takes the position that a life term without parole is an appropriate punishment. “I would rather have a murderer locked up alone for a lifetime to make them suffer than to put them out of their misery or a guilty conscience and regret. They should suffer for a lifetime with the weight of a murder on their backs just as the victims’ families will suffer for a lifetime the losses of their loved ones.”
“It is easy to forgive someone who has committed a crime against someone else but when the shoe is on the other foot, things are very different,” said Ryan Schapker.
Nothing will be accomplished
“The death penalty doesn’t change the fact that the victim is gone and will never come back,” said Faith Slaton. “Hate, revenge and anger will never cure the emptiness of a lost loved one. Forgiveness is the only way to start the healing process, and this won’t happen in a revenge-focused individual.”
“I understand that the state is doing what it thinks is best,” said Katie Steinkamp. What they feel is a just punishment for what he has done. But by killing Eric nothing will really be accomplished, other than another life taken. Killing him won’t bring back the lives that he took. Nor will it stop the pain that the families still feel today.”
Erin Kelley pointed out that “capital punishment is much closer to revenge than retribution,” and that “studies indicate that the death penalty does not act as a deterrent at all.”
Kelly also quoted Pope John Paul II, who said during his 1999 visit to St. Louis, that “the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil.”
Sanctity of life
“All life is sacred, but sometimes it does not seem like it,” said Bill Muensterman. “In order to change one’s opinion on the death penalty, one must change his or her opinions on the criminals. If we see the people on death row not as bad people, but as people who have made bad mistakes, finding sympathy for them can be easier.”
“By supporting anti-death penalty legislation, we are fo-cusing on the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human person,” said Benjamin Richardson. “It can be extremely difficult to forgive some criminals and the terrible acts they have carried, out, but the Church reminds us that we are all sinners and only God can pass the final judgment on one’s life.”