Hmm …

… Catholic Church Changes Doctrine To Oppose Death Penalty - Hit & Run : Reason.com. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)

The writer doesn't really understand what he is writing about. This is not doctrine in the sense that the doctrine of the Trinity is. I have long had doubts about the death penalty, given that Jesus was a victim of it. I also agree with Auberon Waugh that the best reason for opposing the death penalty is that it is wrong to kill people. So this doesn't bother me at all.