You are of course correct in that the Church has traditionally placed a much higher emphasis on moral teachings, especially sexual and procreative, than it has on social justice teachings.  But, this is the exact opposite of Jesus' actual teachings which emphasized social justice far more than sexual and procreative morality.  As for the death penalty, it's always puzzled me that Catholics worship a God unjustly executed by the Roman Empire, but instead of being appalled by the very idea of state executions,  they instead applaud them.  I like to think that's why the whole bit about Barabbas is in the Gospels.  It's there to point out he average mob really gets into those executions..guilty or innocent, someone better die.