Archbishop Paul Coakley

The Latest

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley preaching during Mass in the cathedral in 2021.

Oklahoma archbishop: Supreme Court review of execution could further cause of abolition

Jan 24, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it will review the case of an Oklahoma man on death row who... Read more

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meets for its fall plenary assembly meeting Nov. 14, 2023, in Baltimore.

Bishops elect new secretary, committee chairs at fall meeting in Baltimore

Nov 14, 2023

By Zelda Caldwell

The bishops overwhelmingly voted in Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as secretary-elect and chairman-elect of the Committee on... Read more

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley.

Oklahoma archbishop decries execution of Anthony Sanchez as ‘archaic’

Sep 28, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Sanchez was convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken. Read more

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley preaching during Mass in the cathedral in 2021.

After latest Oklahoma execution, Archbishop Coakley calls for death penalty abolition

Jul 24, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Convicted murderer Jemaine Cannon, 51, was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Read more

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley preaching during Mass in the cathedral in 2021.

Archbishop Coakley: Respond with love to those with gender dysphoria without compromising truth

May 4, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City in an interview this week called for responding to those experiencing gender dysphoria with... Read more

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, attends a roundtable at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 18, 2020.

Oklahoma bishops applaud governor’s signing of bill prohibiting sex changes for minors

May 2, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law Monday prohibiting gender reassignment surgery and hormone use for minors younger than 18... Read more

Archbishop Paul Coakley. Courtesy photo.

Full text of Bishop Paul Coakley’s pastoral letter on gender dysphoria, transgender movement

“On the Unity of the Body and Soul: Accompanying Those Experiencing Gender Dysphoria” was released on Good Shepherd Sunday. Read more

A statue of Blessed Stanley Rother at the new shrine in his honor in Oklahoma City.

‘He was a good shepherd’: Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine dedicated in Oklahoma City

Feb 17, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The archbishop of Oklahoma City dedicated and opened a multimillion-dollar, 2,000-seat shrine built in Rother’s honor on Feb. 17. Read more

A statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands on a re-creation of Tepeyac Hill in Oklahoma City as part of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine.

U.S. shrine re-creates Our Lady of Guadalupe apparition with giant sculptures

Dec 12, 2022

By Katie Yoder

The new Tepeyac Hill, located in Oklahoma City, was dedicated Sunday in anticipation of the feast of Our Lady of... Read more

Bishops Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend (left), Michael Burbidge of Arlington (center), and Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City (right)

Bishops elect Burbidge pro-life chair; other votes signal no dramatic policy shifts

Nov 16, 2022

By Shannon Mullen, Katie Yoder

Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, was elected chair of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee Wednesday. Read more

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Denial of clemency to death row inmate disappoints Oklahoma archbishop

Sep 28, 2022

By CNA Staff

One day after a parole board denied clemency to death row inmate Benjamin Cole, the archbishop of Oklahoma City registered... Read more

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Three bishops on the Camino to Santiago: An exclusive interview with Bishop James Conley

Sep 11, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

The three walked 15 to 24 miles a day along the Camino, just as pilgrims have been doing for more... Read more

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U.S. bishops urge Senate to pass protections for working moms in Labor Day message

Sep 5, 2022

By Carl Bunderson

In their message for Labor Day, the U.S. bishops have urged the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as... Read more

A lethal injection chamber.

Oklahoma City archbishop disappointed by denial of clemency to death row inmate

Aug 24, 2022

By Carl Bunderson

Shortly after Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma denied clemency to death row inmate James Coddington on Wednesday, the Archbishop of... Read more

Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK) attends a roundtable at the White House in Washington, DC June 18, 2020.

Oklahoma City archbishop encourages 'culture of life' after governor signs abortion ban

May 26, 2022

By Katie Yoder

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City thanked state leaders Wednesday “for supporting pro-life measures” after the governor signed into law... Read more

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley preaching during Mass in the cathedral in 2021.

Oklahoma governor's clemency of Julius Jones took 'tremendous courage,' Archbishop Coakley says

Nov 18, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City praised Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) for his “tremendous courage” in granting convicted murderer Julius... Read more

Archbishop Paul Coakley. Courtesy photo.

Oklahoma City archbishop issues call to prayer for end to abortion, death penalty

Oct 23, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City has issued a call to prayer for the abolition of the death penalty and... Read more

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley preaching during Mass in the cathedral in 2021.

Marking Labor Day, archbishop urges Catholics to pray and work for an economy that respects the common good

Sep 6, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

A US archbishop has urged Catholics to pray and work for an economy that respects the common good, as the... Read more

Archbishop Paul Coakley, chair of the USCCB domestic justice and human development committee, preaching during Mass in the cathedral in 2021.

USCCB ‘grateful’ for passage of infrastructure bill, urges no funding of abortions

Aug 12, 2021

By Joe Bukuras

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Tuesday offered some praise of the U.S. Senate’s passage of a $1.2... Read more

Sign over death row.

End executions for Advent, Catholic bishops tell Trump

Dec 7, 2020

Leading U.S. bishops are imploring the Trump administration to stop scheduled federal executions during the season of Advent.  Read more