Death Penalty
The Latest
Supreme Court delays execution of inmate over dementia claims
The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed the execution of an Alabama man who killed a police officer in 1985, on... Read more
Arkansas bishop skips pro-life march over death penalty concerns
Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock has said he will not attend the local March for Life because its keynote... Read more
Pope's death penalty views may mean new approach to criminal justice
On Wednesday, Pope Francis told a gathering in Rome that the Catechism of the Catholic Church should significantly revise its... Read more
Pope Francis: Death penalty is contrary to the Gospel
In an Oct. 11 speech to members of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, Pope Francis... Read more
As Florida execution approaches, bishops urge governor to take pro-life path
An imminent execution scheduled for this week is the wrong path, said Florida’s Catholic bishops, urging the governor of the... Read more
Ohio bishops: Replace death penalty with mercy, conversion
Catholic leaders in Ohio stressed the need to replace the death penalty with mercy and spiritual conversion, following the execution... Read more
Is Virginia about to execute a man with a serious mental illness?
William Morva is scheduled to be executed in Virginia on July 6. Read more
New pledge aims to amplify Catholic opposition to death penalty
A Catholic pledge against the death penalty cites Pope Francis’ stand as a motive to increase Catholic action against capital... Read more
Trump nominee wrote on Catholic judges and the death penalty
Among the newly announced federal judges selected by President Donald Trump is a Catholic law professor who once co-wrote a... Read more
Arkansas executions damage 'our whole society,' Catholic group says
As Arkansas executed its fourth inmate in eight days, Catholics offered prayers for the prisoners, the victims, and their families,... Read more
Catholics speak out against execution of two more Arkansas inmates
As Arkansas prepares to conduct the first double execution in the U.S. since 2000, Catholics prayed for all involved in... Read more
Virginia bishops welcome commutation of prisoner's death sentence
The Catholic bishops of Virginia welcomed a decision by the governor to commute a prisoner’s death sentence on the grounds... Read more
Supreme Court rejects Texas' standards for executing the intellectually disabled
In a death penalty case with national implications, the Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a Texas court ruling that a... Read more
Don't misuse Bible to push death penalty, Philippines bishops say
Remember what Jesus' cross stands for, and don't misuse the Bible to justify the death penalty, the Philippines' Catholic bishops... Read more
Is the death penalty a form of psychological torture? This author says yes
Recent “botched executions” resulting in painful deaths for inmates have stirred controversy over the use of the death penalty. But... Read more
The death penalty doesn't solve problems, archbishop tells UN
The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations reiterated the Vatican’s defense of all human life in... Read more
DIY execution? Arizona’s 'bizarre' new death penalty policy
It’s an odd time for death in the United States. Read more
Why some Texas legislators want to limit the death penalty
One death sentence in Texas has prompted some legislators to rethink the state’s broad qualifications for the death penalty. Read more
Philippines bishops oppose bid for severe death penalty revival
The Catholic bishops of the Philippines voiced strong objections to proposals intended to reinstate the death penalty in the country.... Read more
Virginia bishops: Death penalty won't heal a broken world
For two Catholic bishops in Virginia, the execution of a man convicted of brutally killing a family of four was... Read more
