GENERALLY, CATHOLICS FEEL THAT THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIMINALS SHOULD MEET THE CRITERIA OF PENOLOGICAL JUSTICE, NAMELY EFFECTIVENESS, PRESERVATION OF HUMAN DIGNITY, AND NECESSITY. NO EXPLICIT POSITION ON THE DEATH PENALTY CAN BE FOUND IN THE BIBLE, AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DID SANCTION IT THROUGHOUT HISTORY. CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC THEOLOGIANS, HOWEVER, QUESTION THE NECESSITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY, REGARDING IT AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HUMAN DIGNITY. THEY DENY ITS DETERRENT VALUE AND CALL IT A FORM OF LEGALIZED VIOLENCE. OVERALL CONTEMPORARY CATHOLIC THOUGHT IS DESCRIBED AS BEING CLEARLY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY. FOOTNOTES AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA ARE PROVIDED. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)