By John M. Grondelski, The Catholic Thing - A minor tempest has arisen in the Catholic blogosphere over the question of the reason for punishing criminals. Pope Francis, who has already rewritten the Catechism to claim that capital punishment is “inadmissible,” appears also to think that life sentences for criminals might also “violate human dignity.” Papal apologists have taken to arguing that a “just” society is one that incarcerates criminals until they are reformed, and then sends them forth, rejoicing.