Death Penalty

The Latest

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber.

As Florida execution approaches, bishops urge governor to take pro-life path

Aug 22, 2017

An imminent execution scheduled for this week is the wrong path, said Florida’s Catholic bishops, urging the governor of the... Read more

Lethal injection.

Ohio bishops: Replace death penalty with mercy, conversion

Jul 27, 2017

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?

Jun 30, 2017

By Matt Hadro

William Morva is scheduled to be executed in Virginia on July 6.  Read more

New pledge aims to amplify Catholic opposition to death penalty

May 14, 2017

A Catholic pledge against the death penalty cites Pope Francis’ stand as a motive to increase Catholic action against capital... Read more

Judge gavel.

Trump nominee wrote on Catholic judges and the death penalty

May 10, 2017

By Matt Hadro

Among the newly announced federal judges selected by President Donald Trump is a Catholic law professor who once co-wrote a... Read more

Death penalty.

Arkansas executions damage 'our whole society,' Catholic group says

Apr 28, 2017

By Matt Hadro

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

Apr 24, 2017

By Matt Hadro

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

Apr 22, 2017

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

Mar 28, 2017

By Matt Hadro

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

Mar 20, 2017

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

Mar 14, 2017

By Matt Hadro

Recent “botched executions” resulting in painful deaths for inmates have stirred controversy over the use of the death penalty. But... Read more

Death penalty.

The death penalty doesn't solve problems, archbishop tells UN

Mar 7, 2017

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

Feb 15, 2017

It’s an odd time for death in the United States.  Read more

Why some Texas legislators want to limit the death penalty

Feb 3, 2017

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

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

Drop plans to expand death penalty, bishops ask Philippines

Dec 14, 2016

Catholic prayer and protests greeted proposals to expand the use of the death penalty in the Philippines, with the move... 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