Sen. Ted Cruz took issue with Pope Francis’ opposition to the death penalty, saying capital punishment actually reinforces the value of human life.
“As a policy matter, I do not agree,” said Cruz, who sits fifth in the Washington Examiner’s latest power rankings.
“I spent a number of years in law enforcement dealing with some of the worst criminals, child rapists and murderers, people who’ve committed unspeakable acts,” Cruz told Politico. “I believe the death penalty is a recognition of the preciousness of human life, that for the most egregious crimes, the ultimate punishment should apply.”
During his address to a joint session of Congress, Pope Francis pushed for the abolition of the death penalty, telling members of both chambers that “every life is sacred.”
“I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes,” Francis said.
The United States sits among the top five nations in the world in executions, although the number has fallen in recent years. In 2014, the only nations to carry out more executions than the U.S. were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
