Death Penalty
The Latest
Supreme Court reinstates death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber
In a 6-3 decision, with Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor dissenting, the court found that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev... Read more
Bishops in Texas urge clemency for woman on death row
The state of Texas should grant clemency to a woman set to be executed in April, a Catholic organization and... Read more
Oklahoma governor's clemency of Julius Jones took 'tremendous courage,' Archbishop Coakley says
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City praised Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) for his “tremendous courage” in granting convicted murderer Julius... Read more
Catholic group decries Oklahoma execution, during which inmate vomited
A Catholic organization is calling on Oklahoma to stop executing prisoners following yet another botched execution Thursday afternoon. Read more
Catholics pray after Alabama executes death row inmate
Alabama executed inmate Willie B. Smith III on Thursday evening, Oct. 20, marking the first execution in the state since... Read more
Biden administration pushes death sentence for Boston bomber at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday, Oct. 13 concerning whether or not to reinstate a federal death sentence for... Read more
Missouri bishops condemn execution of Ernest Johnson
The four bishops of Missouri released a joint statement on Wednesday evening condemning the state’s execution of Ernest Lee Johnson,... Read more
Missouri executes inmate after Holy See appealed for clemency
Missouri on Tuesday evening executed Ernest Johnson, 61, an inmate convicted of murdering three people in the 1990s, after the... Read more
Holy See asks Missouri governor to halt scheduled execution
The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christopher Pierre, asked the governor of Missouri on Monday to spare the... Read more
Supreme Court halts execution of inmate requesting vocal prayer at his death
The Supreme Court late Wednesday evening halted the execution of a Texas death row inmate who had requested his pastor... Read more
In last-minute plea to Supreme Court, lawyers beg for prayer in execution chamber
Religious freedom advocates are requesting that a Texas death row inmate have access to vocal prayer and the touch of... Read more
Texas death row inmate sues to have pastor’s touch in execution chamber
A man scheduled to be executed in early September is suing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to have his... Read more
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Survey: A majority of US Catholics support the death penalty
One recent survey shows a majority of U.S. Catholics supporting use of the death penalty for murder convicts. The support... Read more
US Justice Department halts federal executions
US Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a moratorium on federal executions while the Department of Justice conducts a review of... Read more
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Biden administration seeks death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber
The Justice Department recently asked the Supreme Court to reinstate a death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for his role in... Read more
Arizona bishops 'very concerned' about possible executions - including by gas chamber
Arizona bishops are “very concerned” that the state could resume executions this fall – including the possibility of executions by... Read more
Catholics make last-minute appeal of execution in Texas
Catholics are asking the governor of Texas to halt an execution scheduled for Wednesday evening. Read more
Charleston diocese 'extremely disappointed' with law recommencing executions
South Carolina on Monday became the fourth state to officially sanction the use of the firing squad as a method... Read more
As Biden presidency passes 100 days, Catholics push him to end federal death penalty
Catholics are calling on President Joe Biden to honor his campaign promises to raise the refugee ceiling and halt use... Read more
How Archbishop Naumann's family tragedy shaped his beliefs on the sanctity of life
For the chair of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee, his family’s history of tragedy shaped his beliefs on human dignity... Read more
