Capital Punishment

The Latest

The US Penitentiary at Terre Haute, where Lezmond Mitchell is scheduled to be executed Aug. 26.

Catholics plead for Navajo man on eve of scheduled execution

Aug 25, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Catholics are joining Native American leaders in calling for mercy for a Navajo man who is sentenced to die in... Read more

Death row in an American prison.

Second federal inmate executed after Supreme Court decision

Jul 16, 2020

The second of five federal prisoners slated for execution was killed in the early hours of Thursday, July 16. Wesley... Read more

Court denies Catholic priest's motion asking for delay of prisoner's execution

Jul 14, 2020

The chief judge of a federal district court in Indiana denied Tuesday a motion to delay the execution of Dustin... Read more

First federal execution in 17 years lamented as 'unnecessary and avoidable'

Jul 14, 2020

The federal government executed its first federal inmate in 17 years on Tuesday, following numerous delays and requests for clemency... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark.

Cardinal Tobin asks Trump for clemency in death row case

Jul 9, 2020

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark has joined several U.S. bishops in asking President Donald Trump to commute the death sentence... Read more

Federal executions to resume after Supreme Court denies appeal

Jun 29, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

Federal executions are set to resume in the next two weeks after the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to... Read more

Supreme Court stays Texas execution over chaplain dispute 

Jun 17, 2020

The Supreme Court stayed the execution of a man in Texas after the state’s Department of Corrections refused to allow... Read more

Walter Barton.

Catholics protest Missouri execution of death row prisoner

May 20, 2020

Despite objections from Catholic groups, a Missouri death row inmate died by lethal injection May 19, in the first execution... Read more

Colorado becomes latest state to repeal death penalty

Mar 24, 2020

The Catholic bishops of Colorado have welcomed the repeal of the death penalty, as the state becomes the 22nd to... Read more

The Colorado capitol building in Denver.

Colorado's Catholic bishops back death penalty repeal

Feb 3, 2020

The Catholic bishops of Colorado have backed a bipartisan bill to repeal the death penalty that appears set to become... Read more

Drop in support for the death penalty matches decline in its use

Dec 19, 2019

As support for the death penalty decreases in the U.S., so does the number of inmates executed by the states,... Read more

Federal executions put on hold while court case moves forward

Nov 21, 2019

A federal judge on Wednesday issued a preliminary injunction halting federal executions in the U.S., saying that a challenge to... Read more

Indiana bishops say death penalty does not help convicts or victims

Oct 7, 2019

Ahead of a scheduled reinstatement of the death penalty for federal inmates, the bishops of Indiana are calling on U.S.... Read more

Bishops lament return of federal executions

Jul 30, 2019

Catholic leaders have condemned the federal government’s announcement last week that it will resume of executions after an almost two... Read more

The flag of the Philippines.

Church in Philippines rejects president's call to revive death penalty

Jul 26, 2019

Catholic leaders in the Philippines are calling on Catholics and lawmakers to resist President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to revive the... Read more

After nearly 20 years, federal government will resume executions

Jul 25, 2019

By Matt Hadro

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will resume executions after an almost two-decade lapse, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced... Read more

Manchester bishop welcomes repeal of death penalty in NH

May 30, 2019

Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester welcomed Thursday the New Hampshire legislature's override of a veto by the governor on capital... Read more

The lethal injection room at San Quentin State Prison.

Florida Catholic Conference asks governor to halt execution of serial killer

May 21, 2019

The Catholic bishops of Florida are calling on the state’s governor to spare the life of Bobby Joe Long, a... Read more

Tenn. bishops urge governor to stop executions

May 6, 2019

The bishops of Tennessee have requested that the new governor halt four executions planned for this year, reiterating the Church’s... Read more

After Supreme Court ruling, Texas bans all chaplains from execution rooms

Apr 4, 2019

The state of Texas has banned all prison chaplains from its execution chamber, following a Supreme Court decision that halted... Read more