Denver, Colo., Mar 4, 2018 / 04:38 am
Colorado bishops have released a statement of solidarity with a Mennonite investigator who has been imprisoned for failing to testify in a death penalty case due to her religious beliefs.
"Religious freedom ensures that all people have the freedom to believe and act according to their faith; it is a fundamental right and constitutionally protected in the United States. This right encompasses the ability to practice one's faith openly, without undue interference from the government or others," read a Feb. 28 statement from the Colorado Catholic Bishops.
"Ms. Lindecrantz should not be punished for her religious beliefs and convictions regarding the death penalty and the taking of human life," they continued.
Greta Lindecrantz, a Mennonite, was a prominent investigator in the defense counsel for a man named Robert Ray during the 2000s. Ray was ultimately convicted as an accessory to murder in the death of Gregory Vann, and additionally for ordering the murders of two witnesses. He was later sentenced to death row.