CNA Staff, Aug 27, 2020 / 16:30 pm
The U.S. bishops' conference on Thursday criticized the federal government for its continued use of the death penalty, which the Justice Department resumed this summer after a 17-year moratorium on federal executions.
"The Church's opposition to the death penalty is clear, and we have made many requests that the federal government should not resume these executions. Yet, not only has the government done so, they have scheduled even more executions. After the first three in July, there are two this week, and two more at the end of September," the U.S. bishops said in an Aug. 27 statement.
"Remembering the Lord's call for mercy, we renew our plea: stop these executions!"
The statement was signed by Archbishop Paul Coakley, chair of the bishops' domestic policy committee, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chair of the pro-life committee.