Capital Punishment

The Latest

The Texas Supreme Court will allow the execution of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of the murder of his infant child, with the ruling coming after a legislative committee attempted in October 2024 to delay the capital sentence by subpoenaing the condemned man.

Texas Supreme Court allows previously-delayed execution of Robert Roberson to proceed

Nov 19, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Texas House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence last month issued a subpoena for Robert Roberson to appear before... Read more

The Supreme Court of Texas said in a post on X late Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, that it had “granted a Texas House of Representatives’ emergency motion” and “effectively [halted] the execution of Robert Roberson,” which was scheduled to take place that night.

Texas death row inmate, spared execution, barred from testifying to state lawmakers

Oct 23, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Robert Roberson was convicted in 2003 of the murder of his infant daughter, Nikki, whom he had brought to a... Read more

The Supreme Court of Texas said in a post on X late Thursday, Oct. 17, that it had “granted a Texas House of Representatives’ emergency motion” and “effectively [halted] the execution of Robert Roberson,” which was scheduled to take place that night.

Texas man’s execution halted after last-minute subpoena to testify before state Legislature

Oct 18, 2024

By Daniel Payne

The Supreme Court of Texas said in a post on X late Thursday that it had “effectively [halted] the execution... Read more

Anti-death penalty activists, including members of MoveOn.org and other advocacy groups, rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent the execution of Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip on Sept. 29, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

Supreme Court hears oral arguments in consequential Oklahoma death penalty case

Oct 9, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

This is the second time Richard Glossip’s contentious death sentence has come before the Supreme Court. Read more

Pope Francis addresses the faithful during second vespers on the feast of Our Lady of the Snows at the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Aug. 5, 2024.

Pope Francis pens preface to US death row chaplain’s book on death penalty

Aug 19, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The pope personally penned the introduction to “A Christian on Death Row: My Commitment to Those Condemned” by Dale Recinella. Read more

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Anti-death penalty activists celebrate 200th death row exoneree: ‘Undoubtedly optimistic’

Jul 17, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Catholic Mobilizing Network said in a press release that California prisoner Larry Roberts had become “the 200th death row exoneration... Read more

California Gov. Gavin Newsom attends an event with fellow governors in the East Room of the White House on Feb. 23, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

California governor: Pope Francis told me he was ‘proud’ of state’s death penalty moratorium

May 17, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

No one has been executed in California since 2006, due in part to a moratorium beginning in 2019 that Newsom... Read more

Anti-death penalty activists rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to prevent the execution of Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip on Sept. 29, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

Oklahoma attorney general asks Supreme Court to halt execution of condemned convict

Apr 24, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Since Richard Glossip’s initial conviction, two independent investigations have uncovered serious problems with his trial. Read more

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Missouri bishops plead for death row inmate on eve of execution

Apr 8, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Catholic bishops of Missouri are urging the faithful to contact Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted... Read more

Ivan Cantu is scheduled to be executed by the state of Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.

Texas death row inmate to be executed in days as Catholics call for clemency

Feb 26, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Texas has scheduled the execution of Ivan Cantu for Wednesday, Feb. 28. Cantu was convicted for a double murder that... Read more

Panelists speak at an Oct. 23, 2023, Catholic-organized anti-death penalty event at Xavier University’s Bellarmine Chapel in Cincinnati.

Catholic anti-death penalty group seeks to ‘transform the criminal system’ in defense of life

Feb 4, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Catholic Mobilizing Network seeks to “value life over death, to end the use of the death penalty,” and “to transform... Read more

The Community of Sant'Egidio, a group founded in Rome and known for mediating conflicts worldwide, shared a  petition Jan. 23, 2024, urging Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to halt the execution of convicted murderer Kenneth “Kenny” Eugene Smith.

Catholic group expresses concern over Alabama’s untested new execution method

Jan 23, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Community of Sant’Egidio shared a petition Jan. 23 urging Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to halt the execution of Kenneth... Read more

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Biden administration seeks the death penalty for Buffalo supermarket shooter

Jan 16, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Payton Gendron’s May 2022 shooting rampage resulted in 10 deaths. Authorities called it a racially motivated hate crime.  Read more

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Data shows most states moving away from use of the death penalty

Dec 7, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Executions peaked in 1999 and have been on a mostly unbroken downward trajectory since then with more states ending the... Read more

Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin celebrates Mass in the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas, which houses the state's female death row, on Dec. 1, 2023.

Austin bishop celebrates special Mass in Texas prison for female death row inmates

Dec 5, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The Mass, which took place at the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas, was part of a three-day conference... Read more

Archbishop Paul Coakley. Courtesy photo.

Oklahoma City archbishop urges governor to grant clemency to convicted murderer

Nov 10, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A statewide board in Oklahoma this week narrowly recommended clemency for a man convicted of a double murder more than... Read more

Panelists (from left) Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr., Debra Milke, and Randal Padgett at an Oct. 23, 2023, Catholic Mobilizing Network event at Xavier University’s Bellarmine Chapel in Cincinnati.

Catholic anti-death penalty group hosts discussion featuring death row exonerees

Oct 24, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Catholic Mobilizing Network hosted the Oct. 23 event at Xavier University in Cincinnati in partnership with other anti-death penalty organizations. Read more

Jedidiah Murphy was executed by the state of Texas on Oct. 10, 2023.

Texas executes prisoner despite pleas for clemency from Catholic anti-death-penalty group

Oct 11, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Jedidiah Murphy was put to death by lethal injection at the execution chamber in Huntsville on Tuesday night. Read more

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Florida executes convicted double-murderer despite pleas from Catholic bishops

Oct 4, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Michael Zack had been convicted of two 1996 murders: He stabbed Ravonne Smith to death and later beat to death... 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