Death Penalty

The Latest

A lethal injection chamber in California.

Muslim denied presence of imam at his execution in Alabama

Feb 8, 2019

A Muslim man convicted of murder has been executed in Alabama without his imam present, despite the man’s requests to... Read more

Washington state bishops support repeal of death penalty

Feb 8, 2019

The Catholic bishops of Washington state are expressing support for a senate bill that would repeal the death penalty.  Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in St. Peter's Basilica, Feb. 2, 2015.

Pope Francis: Death penalty a ‘legalistic’ value, not a Christian one

Dec 17, 2018

The death penalty is always a rejection of the Gospel and of human dignity, and therefore must be rejected by... Read more

David Earl Miller. Courtesy: Tennesee Department of Corrections.

Hours before execution, Tennessee governor rejects killer’s plea for mercy

Dec 6, 2018

By JD Flynn

Hours before David Miller is scheduled to be executed in Tennessee’s electric chair, the state’s governor has rejected Miller’s request... Read more

Catholic judge defends death penalty sentence on theological grounds

Aug 29, 2018

A Catholic judge in Ohio who recently sentenced a man to death defended his decision on both legal and theological... Read more

With inmate's fate unclear, Florida bishops pray to end death penalty

Aug 13, 2018

The Catholic bishops of Florida have asked for continued prayers for an end to the death penalty following the stay... Read more

Two medical syringe close-up.

Tennessee executes first prisoner since 2009, despite plea by bishops

Aug 10, 2018

Tennessee carried out its first execution in nearly a decade on Thursday evening. Governor Bill Haslam allowed the lethal injection... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Peter's Square in April, 2018.

Pope Francis and the death penalty: a change in doctrine or circumstances?

Aug 3, 2018

By Ed Condon

Catholic theologians have weighed in on changes Pope Francis has made to the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching on... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican changes Catechism teaching on death penalty, calls it ‘inadmissible’

Aug 2, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Thursday the Vatican changed the Catechism’s teaching on the permissibility of the death penalty, which the Church has taught is... Read more

Is Church teaching changing on the death penalty?

Jul 20, 2018

By Ed Condon

The Church has consistently taught that the state has the authority to use the death penalty. But, in recent years,... Read more

Bishops object as Illinois governor pushes to reinstate death penalty

May 15, 2018

The Catholic Conference of Illinois decried the governor’s call to re-establish the death penalty, which has not been used in... Read more

Study finds decline in global death penalty numbers

Apr 12, 2018

After a record-high year of death sentences implemented around the world in 2016, a new report released by Amnesty International... Read more

Death penalty for drug dealers? Catholic group responds to federal memo

Mar 22, 2018

The Trump administration’s call for increased use of the death penalty in drug-related crimes will not address the root causes... Read more

Botched execution shows death penalty must end, Catholic group says

Mar 13, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

As a death row inmate in Alabama sues the state over a botched execution last month, a Catholic advocacy group... Read more

Colorado bishops support religious freedom of jailed Mennonite

Mar 4, 2018

Colorado bishops have released a statement of solidarity with a Mennonite investigator who has been imprisoned for failing to testify... Read more

Human dignity in the 21st century – Alaskan bishops release pastoral letter

Mar 1, 2018

The bishops of Alaska released a joint pastoral letter this month, highlighting the meaning, origin, and implications of human dignity... Read more

Supreme Court delays execution of inmate over dementia claims

Feb 13, 2018

The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed the execution of an Alabama man who killed a police officer in 1985, on... Read more

Bishop Anthony Taylor.  CNA file photo

Arkansas bishop skips pro-life march over death penalty concerns

Jan 18, 2018

Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock has said he will not attend the local March for Life because its keynote... Read more

Pope Francis at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on June 17, 2015.

Pope's death penalty views may mean new approach to criminal justice

Oct 12, 2017

By JD Flynn

On Wednesday, Pope Francis told a gathering in Rome that the Catechism of the Catholic Church should significantly revise its... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in the Paul VI Hall on Aug. 9, 2017.

Pope Francis: Death penalty is contrary to the Gospel

Oct 11, 2017

By Elise Harris

In an Oct. 11 speech to members of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, Pope Francis... Read more