Capital Punishment

The Latest

Philippines bishops oppose bid for severe death penalty revival

Jan 31, 2017

The Catholic bishops of the Philippines voiced strong objections to proposals intended to reinstate the death penalty in the country.... Read more

Death penalty.

Virginia bishops: Death penalty won't heal a broken world

Jan 22, 2017

For two Catholic bishops in Virginia, the execution of a man convicted of brutally killing a family of four was... Read more

Dylann Roof mugshot.

Pray for Dylann Roof's victims – and his conversion, S.C. bishop says

Jan 11, 2017

The death sentence announced this week for mass murderer Dylann Roof prompted the local Catholic bishop to call for prayer,... Read more

Death penalty was on the decline in America in 2016

Jan 6, 2017

The year 2016 marked a major decline in the number of executions and sentences to capital punishment in the United... Read more

Many states still execute inmates with severe mental illnesses

Dec 10, 2016

By Matt Hadro

More than 10 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in two separate cases that the death penalty is unconstitutional when... Read more

Outside of the US Supreme Court House in Washington DC during the June 2015 ruling on the death penalty.

Supreme Court appears skeptical of Texas' death penalty standards

Dec 2, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in a death penalty case that could determine the fate of a man... Read more

Bishop James D. Conley prays with brother bishops at his installation as the ninth bishop of Lincoln, Neb.

Bishop Conley rejects pro-death penalty ads distorting his words

Nov 5, 2016

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln has called on the group “Nebraskans for the Death Penalty” to retract social media advertisements... Read more

Texas bishops: The death penalty is a pro-life issue

Oct 10, 2016

The abolition of the death penalty is “undeniably a pro-life issue” that would better serve society and lead criminals to... Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber 1.

Don't bring back the death penalty, New Mexico bishops plead

Aug 23, 2016

The Catholic bishops of New Mexico are speaking up against a proposal to reintroduce capital punishment in the state, saying... Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber.

California bishops urge voters to reject the death penalty this fall

Jul 16, 2016

On Thursday, the bishops of California announced their support of a state ballot measure that would end the use of... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, April 13, 2016.

There's no excuse for it: Pope Francis on the death penalty

Jun 22, 2016

In a video message sent Wednesday to a gathering of advocates for abolition of the death penalty, Pope Francis welcomed... Read more

The former lethal injection room at the New Mexico State Penitentiary.

Executions in the US are falling dramatically. Why?

Jan 7, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Executions in the United States fell to the lowest number in decades in 2015, and recent Popes may have helped... Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber 1.

Ahead of Florida execution, bishops renew calls against death penalty

Oct 27, 2015

Stressing that capital punishment is not necessary in the modern-day U.S., Florida’s Catholic bishops have asked the state governor to... Read more

Kelly Gissendaner at the Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, GA at the 2011 graduation ceremony.

Pope appeals for life of Georgia death row inmate, but parole board rejects

Sep 29, 2015

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has declined to commute the death sentence of a local woman scheduled to... Read more

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln prepares to administer Confirmation to prisoners during a Mass said at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, March 31, 2015. Photo courtesy of the Southern Nebraska Register.

It's not over yet: Nebraska bishops, Catholics continue to fight death penalty

Aug 28, 2015

Nebraska’s three Catholic bishops have asked all people of goodwill to continue to fight the death penalty, after it won... Read more

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln gives Confirmation to a prisoner during a Mass said at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, March 31, 2015. Photo courtesy of the Southern Nebraska Register.

Bishop Conley asks for prayers as Nebraska legislators vote on death penalty (Updated)

May 27, 2015

By Carl Bunderson

As the Nebraska Legislature considers overriding the state governor's veto of a bill that would repeal the death penalty, the... Read more

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln blesses prisoners at the Nebraska State Penitentiary during the recessional of a Mass said March 31, 2015. Photo courtesy of the Southern Nebraska Register.

Nebraska bishops praise move to repeal death penalty

May 21, 2015

Nebraska’s Catholic bishops on Wednesday praised the Nebraska legislature’s veto-proof vote to end the death penalty, saying  capital punishment “cannot... Read more

Sister Helen Prejean, an anti-death penalty advocate who testified in the sentencing trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber.

Nun asks jury for mercy, to spare Boston bomber's life

May 11, 2015

By Adelaide Mena

In the defense’s final move to save the life of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Sister Helen Prejean asked... Read more

Virginia bishops on the death penalty: We're having the wrong debate

May 9, 2015

As discussions surrounding a “more humane” death penalty in the United States continue, the two Catholic bishops of Virginia have... Read more

The lethal injection chamber at the Oklahoma State Penintentiary, May 7, 2010.

Is Oklahoma's use of lethal injection cruel and unusual?

May 2, 2015

By Kate Veik

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case challenging the use of the lethal injection in the... Read more