When I first heard the Pope say that you can’t be “truly pro-life” if you support the abortion and death penalty debate, I knew I had to speak out. This is not just a difference of opinion. It’s a serious distortion of what God’s Word actually says, and it’s confusing millions of people around the world.
Abortion and death penalty are not morally equivalent. Abortion ends innocent life. The death penalty is God’s justice for the guilty. The Pope’s statement confuses what God has clearly distinguished.
The Pope stated, “Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but says, ‘I am in favor of the death penalty,’ is not really pro-life.” This statement quickly made headlines (AP News, new tab), drawing reactions worldwide.
That may sound righteous to some, but it’s not biblical. It conflates two completely different issues: the innocent and the guilty. And when we blur that line, we stop speaking with the authority of God’s Word and start speaking with the world’s voice.
God’s Word, Not the World’s Voice
We live in a time when even major religious leaders try to reshape truth to fit cultural narratives. But truth does not change. God’s Word is the standard — not the Pope, not public opinion, and not even our own emotions.
When we talk about abortion and death penalty, we must begin with the truth that God views life as sacred because we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27). But God also distinguishes between the innocent and the guilty — and He deals with each very differently.
This cultural drift away from biblical clarity is something I’ve written about before in Charlie Kirk, Culture, and the Lie That Truth Offends.
Why God Instituted the Death Penalty
Many believers get uncomfortable when they hear “death penalty.” But Scripture is crystal clear. God Himself instituted it, not out of cruelty, but because of the immense value He places on human life.
Genesis 9:6 declares:
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made mankind.”
This command predates the Mosaic Law. It’s a universal principle: when someone deliberately murders another human being, the state has the authority to administer justice.
Later, in Exodus 21 and Leviticus 24:17, capital punishment is clearly established in Israel’s legal system for specific crimes. And in the New Testament, Romans 13:4 reaffirms this: the governing authority “does not bear the sword in vain” but is “God’s servant, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
God’s standard for justice has always distinguished between shedding innocent blood and punishing those who shed it.
Human Systems Aren’t Perfect — But God’s Truth Still Stands
I’ve heard this argument over and over: “Our justice system is broken. Innocent people have been put to death.” And that is tragically true. We live in a fallen world with human institutions that fail.
But human error doesn’t nullify God’s standard. If we rejected every biblical principle because people mess it up, we’d have to throw out marriage, government, the church, and everything else God established.
Our role as believers is twofold:
— Uphold God’s justice as revealed in Scripture.
— Advocate for righteous processes that protect the innocent and punish the guilty justly.
The existence of failure doesn’t erase God’s command. It calls for greater responsibility in applying it.
Abortion: The Shedding of Innocent Blood
Now let’s turn to abortion. This is where the Pope’s statement completely collapses.
God’s Word is unwavering: unborn children are innocent human beings created in His image. Psalm 139:13–16 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Abortion is not about justice. It’s the deliberate taking of an innocent life. Proverbs 6:17 lists “hands that shed innocent blood” as something God hates. Unlike the death penalty, which Scripture ordains for the guilty, abortion directly targets the blameless.
When someone tries to equate the two, they’re not defending life — they’re twisting God’s definition of it.
The Only Exception: When Both Lives Are at Risk
There are heartbreaking, rare cases when both the baby and the mother’s lives are in immediate danger. In these moments, the goal isn’t to choose death but to preserve life where possible.
Doctors facing such a situation are not seeking abortion as a cultural “choice.” They’re working to save at least one life where both would otherwise be lost.
This is not a loophole. It’s a tragic reality of living in a fallen world. And even then, the value of life remains at the center.
Rape: Evil Cannot Be Answered With More Evil
Another common objection is the case of rape. Let me say clearly: rape is evil. It’s violent. It wounds deeply. My heart breaks for any woman who has endured it.
But the child conceived through that violence is not the perpetrator. The baby is innocent. Deuteronomy 24:16 teaches that children must not be punished for their father’s sins. Taking a child’s life doesn’t undo the trauma of rape — it creates a second injustice.
Our response must carry both compassion and conviction:
— The mother deserves care, support, and love.
— The child deserves the right to live.
— The Church should stand as a refuge for both.
Even in the most painful situations, abortion is never justified in God’s eyes.
Why the Pope Is Wrong About Abortion and Death Penalty
When the Pope equates abortion with the death penalty, he sends a dangerous and confusing message to the world. He blurs the very line that God drew clearly in Scripture.
The innocent must be protected. The guilty are subject to justice. Abortion and death penalty are not moral equals. One violates God’s standard; the other reflects it when applied righteously.
The Pope’s words may appeal to cultural sentiment, but they do not reflect biblical truth.
Standing Firm on God’s Word
In moments like this, it’s tempting to stay silent to avoid offending anyone. But silence in the face of error is not love — it’s compromise.
We are called to speak God’s truth boldly and clearly. Abortion and death penalty are not two sides of the same coin. One is the taking of innocent life. The other is justice for those who have taken it.
As Jesus said in John 8:32:
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
I’ve said it before — standing firm on biblical truth is never easy, but it’s necessary. What the Government Shutdown Reveals About Truth in Culture is another example of why believers must hold the line.
I’m not called to be popular. I’m called to speak the truth. And the truth is that abortion ends innocent life. The death penalty, though carried out by imperfect human systems, reflects God’s justice against those who shed innocent blood.
Arch Kennedy
Bold, Unfiltered, and Unafraid
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Well stated. Excellent blog.