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New Jersey Greek Orthodox Spiritual LeaderHis Eminence, Metropolitan EVANGELOS of New Jersey, on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Faithful of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey, and in particular of those residing within the State of New Jersey, applauds and congratulates the Honorable Governor Jon Corzine and the esteemed Lawmakers of the State of New Jersey for their recent decision in signing a death penalty bill into law that repealed the death penalty in the State of New Jersey. The State of New Jersey has thus become the first State within the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey, which is comprised of the States of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Greater Philadelphia, as well as the first State in the Union since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, to pass such a historical measure, thus setting the tone for other States to follow in the renouncing of capital punishment. In a letter addressed to Governor Corzine, Metropolitan Evangelos, as the Spiritual Leader of all Greek Orthodox Christians in the Mid-Atlantic States, wrote, “I applaud your resolve and conviction to uphold the sanctity of life, thus honoring our Creator and God who alone has the authority to give life and to end life. Indeed, human life is deserving of deep respect and individual human beings are to be treated in accordance to their inherent human dignity. The abolishment of the death penalty is a step in that direction, of restoring human dignity to the sinner, for we are to hate the sin, but love the sinner, praying for their repentance and subsequent reconciliation with God and society.” The Greek Orthodox Church throughout its history in interpreting the Holy Scriptures has always placed the highest priority on the preservation of life, as according to its Faith Tradition, every human has been made “in the image and likeness of God.” As such, the human being is the most precious of all Gods creation and is subject to divine law, of which “Thou shall not kill,” is of the preeminent statutes. In accordance with Orthodox Tradition and Teaching, human beings do not have the moral or divine right to take the life of another human being. In todays contemporary society, which is part of the fallen humanity, sin has entered the world and is prevalent in the fallen nature of man himself, who has fallen out of grace and commits sin, such as taking the life of another. The Orthodox Church exhorts its faithful to show compassion and mercy towards the transgressor, while at the same time abhorring the transgression, allowing Almighty God to judge. It is in this spirit of humility of placing divine law over human law that Metropolitan Evangelos has expressed his joy at the passing of this recent legislation which also serves as a precaution of wrongly taking the life of the innocent. It is His Eminences prayer and hope that legislators in the other states under his spiritual jurisdiction, namely Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania, will follow and imitate the bold initiative of Governor Corzine and New Jerseys lawmakers and bring an end to capital punishment, giving justice and the sanctity of life an opportunity to flourish.
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