Death Penalty

The Latest

Three states keep death penalty in high-stakes election

Nov 9, 2016

The death penalty was up for a vote in California, Nebraska and Oklahoma on Tuesday, but stands against capital punishment... Read more

Bishop James D. Conley prays with brother bishops at his installation as the ninth bishop of Lincoln, Neb.

Bishop Conley rejects pro-death penalty ads distorting his words

Nov 5, 2016

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln has called on the group “Nebraskans for the Death Penalty” to retract social media advertisements... Read more

Nebraska better off without death penalty, Catholics say

Oct 5, 2016

Catholic leaders in Nebraska spoke out in favor of a vote to maintain a ban on the death penalty, calling... Read more

Dem VP nominee Tim Kaine (L) and Rep. VP nominee Mike Pence (R) debate at the Vice Presidential Debate at Longwood University on October 4, 2016.

Here's what the VP candidates said about abortion last night

Oct 5, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The topic of abortion made an appearance at the vice presidential debate last night, as both candidates discussed the role... Read more

Archbishop José H. Gomez at the second annual Immigration Summit at Christ Cathedral, Feb. 27, 2016. Courtesy of the LA Archdiocese.

Archbishop Gomez: It's time to end the death penalty

Sep 24, 2016

Californians should vote for Proposition 62, a ballot measure to end the death penalty, the Archbishop of Los Angeles has... Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber 1.

Don't bring back the death penalty, New Mexico bishops plead

Aug 23, 2016

The Catholic bishops of New Mexico are speaking up against a proposal to reintroduce capital punishment in the state, saying... Read more

Lethal injection room, New Mexico State Pen.

Will Texas execute two innocent men?

Aug 10, 2016

In Texas, two scheduled executions could kill innocent men, Catholic and other Christian leaders have warned.  Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber.

California bishops urge voters to reject the death penalty this fall

Jul 16, 2016

On Thursday, the bishops of California announced their support of a state ballot measure that would end the use of... Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber.

Death penalty under fire as Supreme Court takes disabled man case

Jun 8, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to review the death sentence of a man whom lawyers claim is intellectually disabled,... Read more

Photo

Against death penalty, Pfizer bans drug sales for lethal injections

May 16, 2016

The drug company Pfizer has announced it will no longer sell drugs for use in lethal injections because it objects... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on April 16, 2014.

Pope Francis against the death penalty: criminals too have the right to life

Feb 21, 2016

Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said on Sunday.  Read more

Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber 1.

Ahead of Florida execution, bishops renew calls against death penalty

Oct 27, 2015

Stressing that capital punishment is not necessary in the modern-day U.S., Florida’s Catholic bishops have asked the state governor to... Read more

The lethal injection room at New Mexico State Pen.

Major evangelical group recognizes growing opposition to death penalty

Oct 21, 2015

The National Association of Evangelicals has issued an expanded statement on the death penalty that for the first time recognizes... Read more

Kelly Gissendaner at the Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, GA at the 2011 graduation ceremony.

Pope appeals for life of Georgia death row inmate, but parole board rejects

Sep 29, 2015

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has declined to commute the death sentence of a local woman scheduled to... Read more

A statue of Bl. Junipero Serra outside Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County, Calif.

How Junipero Serra fought the death penalty for a California native

Aug 5, 2015

Blessed Junipero Serra’s love for the natives of California extended even to those who killed one of his friends and... Read more

The lethal injection room at New Mexico State Pen.

Mercy, Justice, and the Gospel of Life: US bishops on ending the death penalty

Jul 20, 2015

Two leading U.S. bishops have renewed the call to choose life over the death penalty because, they say, heinous criminals... Read more

Supreme Court upholds use of controversial lethal injection drug

Jun 29, 2015

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the continued use of a drug that has been accused of causing... Read more

Boston bomber gets the death penalty – how should Catholics respond?

May 19, 2015

By Matt Hadro

The death sentence for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a legitimate use of state authority, even if Catholics... Read more

Virginia bishops on the death penalty: We're having the wrong debate

May 9, 2015

As discussions surrounding a “more humane” death penalty in the United States continue, the two Catholic bishops of Virginia have... Read more

Indonesia draws international outcry for executing drug traffickers

May 4, 2015

The Australian bishops joined their voices to the international condemnation of the Indonesian government's execution of foreign drug traffickers last... Read more