Austin, Texas, Nov 5, 2019 / 18:00 pm
The Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops have called on Gov. Greg Abbott to delay or cancel the execution of Rodney Reed, a convicted murderer who maintains his innocence.
"The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops engages in advocacy efforts for every single Texas execution by urging the Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant reprieve as a matter of mercy based on our position that the death penalty is inadmissible in modern society," said Jennifer Allmon, executive director of the Texas Conference for Catholic Bishops in a statement provided to CNA.
But, Allmon said, Reed's case is different.
"In the case of Mr. Reed, we are engaging as a matter of justice rather than mercy because there is substantial evidence that he may not be guilty of this crime," Allmon said.