Death Penalty
The Latest
Vatican changes Catechism teaching on death penalty, calls it ‘inadmissible’
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
