3123 The Death Penalty: An Historical and Theological Survey, by James J. Megivern (read 28 Oct 1998) (Book of the Year) I have not read a more important and absorbing book this year than this one. It is a stunning and super-thought-provoking book. Its early part, setting out the sad record of the Church in regard to killing people was super-traumatizing, and what a relief to see how the Catholic position has improved in the last 25 years. I'd like to copy the whole book, but here is a striking excerpt: "Punishment, yes. Death, no. People are not to be killed--not by any 'right' of the state, not in God's name, not for revenge, not to deter another, not at all. That is the nature of the right to life, the dignity of the human person, the law of God, and the teaching of Jesus." ( )