LETTER: Execution as entertainment Is affront to human dignity

To Ozaukee Press:

The proposed public livestreaming of the execution of Nidal Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, raises serious moral and spiritual concerns. 

We grieve for the victims and their families and recognize the importance of justice and accountability. Nothing can excuse such a terrible act of violence. Yet we believe that justice should never become a public spectacle.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This teaching does not mean overlooking evil or abandoning justice. Rather, it challenges us to respond to violence without surrendering our compassion and humanity.

The United Methodist Church has long opposed capital punishment, affirming the sacred worth of every human life. We believe that even those who commit terrible crimes should not be stripped of their human dignity.

As Christians, we remember that Jesus himself suffered a public execution. His example calls us to reject cruelty, resist vengeance, and seek justice tempered with mercy.

We urge our community to reflect on what kind of society we wish to build. We can honor victims, hold offenders accountable, and protect the public without turning human suffering into entertainment.

Justice and compassion are not enemies. A truly humane society must make room for both.

Pastor Jerry Cho and the 

Church and Society Committee 

Grand Avenue United Methodist Church

Port Washington