Washington D.C., Mar 1, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) applauds the Supreme Court’s decision to revoke the death penalty for juvenile offenders and is pleased that the United States has now “joined the rest of the world in outlawing (these) executions.”
The Supreme Court decided March 1 that the Constitution forbids the execution of offenders who were under age 18 when they committed their crimes. The court said the executions violate the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The USSCB, which for 25 years has been calling for an end to the use of the death penalty, “is very encouraged that the United States Supreme Court has recognized that executing juvenile offenders is indeed cruel and unusual,” said Bishop Nicholas Diaries, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy.
“This ruling affirms the position held by a broad cross section of religious denominations, child advocacy groups, and legal and medical organizations,” Bishop Diaries said.