Death Penalty

The Latest

Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Twenty years after bombing, Oklahoma City archbishop calls for mercy to temper justice

Apr 20, 2015

As the Oklahoma City community continues to heal two decades after the horrific bombing that claimed the lives of 168... Read more

Mother and daughter at a candelight vigil for those injured and killed during the Boston Marathon bombings on April 21, 2013.

Bishops appeal against death penalty in Boston bombing case

Apr 8, 2015

As accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev stands trial, the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts are asking that he not receive... Read more

Bullets or needles? Death penalty faces new scrutiny as states mull changes

Mar 27, 2015

By Mary Farrow

Firing squads, gas chambers and the electric chair – these types of execution may seem like methods of the past,... 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: No matter what the crime, 'the death penalty is inadmissible'

Mar 20, 2015

Regardless of the crime that has been committed, capital punishment is unacceptable in the modern world, Pope Francis stressed in... Read more

'Capital punishment must end' – Catholic publications unite in rare joint statement

Mar 5, 2015

Four U.S. Catholic publications with a broad range of audiences have come together in a joint editorial citing Church leaders... Read more

Court commended for staying execution of mentally ill man

Dec 3, 2014

The Catholic bishops in Texas thanked a federal appeals court for issuing a stay of execution for mentally ill inmate... Read more

The lethal injection room at San Quentin State Prison, completed in 2010.

Death penalty suspended in Ohio as lethal drugs questioned

Aug 12, 2014

Following the controversial botched execution of an inmate in Ohio, using a new lethal-injection mixture, a federal judge has decided... Read more

Lethal injection room, New Mexico State Pen.

Ariz. inmate's grueling execution lamented as preventable

Jul 29, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

Not only could the nearly two-hour execution of an Arizona inmate last week have been avoided, but the number of... Read more

Meriam Yehya Ibrahim is pictured in this undated image with her husband, Daniel Wani.

Death sentence for Christian in Sudan draws global criticism

May 16, 2014

A pregnant woman who was raised as a Christian has been sentenced to execution by a Sudanese court that contends... Read more

The lethal injection room at San Quentin State Prison, completed in 2010.

Botched execution shows death penalty's brutality, bishop says

Apr 30, 2014

Commenting on the April 29 bungled execution of a death row inmate at the state penitentiary, Oklahoma City’s archbishop has... Read more

The lethal injection room at San Quentin State Prison, completed in 2010.

Priest lauds temporary halt of Washington death penalty

Feb 13, 2014

By Kevin J. Jones

Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state has issued a moratorium or temporary prohibition on executions, drawing praise from a priest... Read more

The lethal injection room at San Quentin State Prison, completed in 2010.

Death penalty debate aims to give public voice to Church

Jan 26, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

The Aquinas Institute for Catholic Thought will host a debate at the University of Colorado next week on the use... Read more

Florida Catholics plan prayer vigils, protest death penalty

Sep 28, 2013

As the scheduled execution date approaches for a Florida man convicted of murder, local Catholics are offering prayers and renewing... Read more

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila. (File photo/CNA).

Denver archbishop calls for end to Colo. death penalty

May 23, 2013

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver has called for the repeal of the death penalty following the Colorado governor’s grant... Read more

Maryland Catholics call death penalty repeal a pro-life win

Mar 21, 2013

Catholics in Maryland are welcoming the repeal of the death penalty in the state as a step towards a culture... Read more

The Maryland State House.

Maryland advances towards abolishing death penalty

Mar 8, 2013

The Maryland senate has passed a bill that would locally overturn the death penalty, placing the state closer to outlawing... Read more

Archbishop William E. Lori testifies about religious liberty at aHouse subcommittee hearing in 2011.

Archbishop testifies for repeal of Maryland death penalty

Feb 14, 2013

Speaking at a legislative hearing in Maryland, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore supported efforts to end the death penalty... Read more

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.

Gov. Jindal rejects request to halt Ash Wednesday execution

Feb 8, 2013

Gov. Bobby Jindal has rejected the Louisiana Catholic bishops' request to halt the scheduled Ash Wednesday execution of a convicted... Read more

Catholic conference regrets failure of Calif. death penalty repeal

Nov 8, 2012

By Kevin J. Jones

The California Catholic Conference says it regrets the failure of a state ballot measure to repeal the death penalty, but... Read more

A current photo of Terry Williams.

Scheduled execution put on hold in Pennsylvania

Oct 1, 2012

A Philadelphia judge stayed the execution of Terrance Williams last Friday, and his case will now go to the Pennsylvania... Read more