Superlative Glory

Children are a civil society's first trust. And when that trust is violated in the most grotesque and unspeakable way—when a predator targets the innocent, defiles their vulnerability and innocence, and shatters their innate human dignity—the social contract itself is ripped to shreds. A just nation cannot look on and shrug at such heinous crimes. Natural law, sacred Scripture, and centuries of moral reasoning converge on a truth we must recover: some crimes are so evil, so wicked, so unspeakably vile, so corrosive to the common good, that they demand the most severe and ultimate earthly punishment. The Sword Is Not Held in Vain “It is not for nothing that they hold the power of the sword, for they are God’s agents of punishment bringing retribution on the offender.” — Romans 13:4 (Revised English Bible) When the Apostle Paul wrote those words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he was articulating the fundamental duty of the state: to protect the innocent, r...