Death Penalty
The Latest
Catholics join coalition opposed to the death penalty amid execution surge
Catholics and pro-life conservatives formed a coalition of more than 50 organizations seeking to end the death penalty. Read more
Catholic bishop calls Sheikh Hasina death sentence ‘one-sided’ and ‘abuse of power’
A Catholic bishop has criticized Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence as politically motivated, calling it an abuse of power that violates... Read more
Tennessee Catholic bishops call for an end to the death penalty
Tennessee’s Catholic bishops called for an immediate halt to the death penalty and its eventual abolition as the state prepares... Read more
‘Every execution should be stopped’: How U.S. bishops work to save prisoners on death row
Bishops in multiple U.S. states are leading efforts to spare the lives of condemned prisoners facing execution. Read more
Alabama executes man by nitrogen gas after Supreme Court denies request for firing squad
Anthony Boyd was convicted of capital murder in the 1993 killing of Gregory Huguley in Talladega County, Alabama. Read more
Utah seeks death penalty for Tyler Robinson in Charlie Kirk murder
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced he is seeking the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, the man charged with murdering... Read more
Trump backs death penalty in all Washington, DC, murder cases; Catholic group objects
President Donald Trump called on prosecutors in Washington, D.C., to seek the death penalty for any person convicted of murder... Read more
Where does your state stand on the death penalty?
CNA has released three new interactive maps to show where each state in the U.S. stands on life issues —... Read more
Where does the United States stand on life issues?
Here’s an overview of the laws around life issues across the United States as of August 2025. Read more
Florida bishops call for novena to end death penalty after ninth execution sets record
The novena began Aug. 6 and concludes Aug. 14, the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Catholic priest executed in... Read more
Pakistan softens death penalty laws to keep EU trade, preserves blasphemy statutes
Islamabad removes death penalty for two crimes to preserve European trade benefits, but blasphemy laws targeting Christians remain untouched. Read more
Violence against Christians escalates in Syria
Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed. Read more
Lawyers for Mikal Mahdi allege ‘botched’ firing squad execution in South Carolina
According to a status report filed by Mikal Mahdi’s lawyers, the autopsy and eyewitness accounts of his death raise several... Read more
First nitrogen gas execution in Louisiana takes place amid Catholic opposition
Jessie Hoffman Jr. was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. after undergoing nineteen minutes of nitrogen gas. Read more
Florida bishops urge DeSantis to commute death sentence of convicted killer Edward James
Edward James pleaded guilty in 1995 to the killings of Betty Dick and her 8-year-old granddaughter Toni Neuner in Casselberry,... Read more
Catholic bishop warns against ‘culture of death’ as Idaho backs firing squad executions
Executions by firing squad are permitted in five states, but the new law will make Idaho the only state in... Read more
Indian state could introduce the death penalty for religious conversions
Madhya Pradesh’s anti-conversion law had already since 2021 resulted in sentences of 10 years in jail for violators. Read more
Supreme Court overturns Oklahoma death row inmate’s murder conviction, grants new trial
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that condemned Oklahoma death row prisoner Richard Glossip be given a new trial. Read more
Does the death penalty deter crime?
The debate on whether the death penalty deters and lowers rates of crime is a long-simmering one, with both sides... Read more
U.S. bishops criticize Trump’s executive orders on climate, death penalty, immigration
USCCB president Archbishop Timothy Broglio on Wednesday said in a statement that he took issue with some of the orders,... Read more
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