Capital Punishment
The Latest
Pope Francis releases World Day of Peace message, renews call to end death penalty
Pope Francis on Thursday released his message for the 58th World Day of Peace, commemorated annually on Jan. 1, with... Read more
Texas Supreme Court allows previously-delayed execution of Robert Roberson to proceed
The Texas House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence last month issued a subpoena for Robert Roberson to appear before... Read more
Texas death row inmate, spared execution, barred from testifying to state lawmakers
Robert Roberson was convicted in 2003 of the murder of his infant daughter, Nikki, whom he had brought to a... Read more
Texas man’s execution halted after last-minute subpoena to testify before state Legislature
The Supreme Court of Texas said in a post on X late Thursday that it had “effectively [halted] the execution... Read more
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in consequential Oklahoma death penalty case
This is the second time Richard Glossip’s contentious death sentence has come before the Supreme Court. Read more
Pope Francis pens preface to US death row chaplain’s book on death penalty
The pope personally penned the introduction to “A Christian on Death Row: My Commitment to Those Condemned” by Dale Recinella. Read more
Anti-death penalty activists celebrate 200th death row exoneree: ‘Undoubtedly optimistic’
Catholic Mobilizing Network said in a press release that California prisoner Larry Roberts had become “the 200th death row exoneration... Read more
California governor: Pope Francis told me he was ‘proud’ of state’s death penalty moratorium
No one has been executed in California since 2006, due in part to a moratorium beginning in 2019 that Newsom... Read more
Oklahoma attorney general asks Supreme Court to halt execution of condemned convict
Since Richard Glossip’s initial conviction, two independent investigations have uncovered serious problems with his trial. Read more
Missouri bishops plead for death row inmate on eve of execution
The Catholic bishops of Missouri are urging the faithful to contact Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted... Read more
Texas death row inmate to be executed in days as Catholics call for clemency
Texas has scheduled the execution of Ivan Cantu for Wednesday, Feb. 28. Cantu was convicted for a double murder that... Read more
Catholic anti-death penalty group seeks to ‘transform the criminal system’ in defense of life
Catholic Mobilizing Network seeks to “value life over death, to end the use of the death penalty,” and “to transform... Read more
Catholic group expresses concern over Alabama’s untested new execution method
The Community of Sant’Egidio shared a petition Jan. 23 urging Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to halt the execution of Kenneth... Read more
Biden administration seeks the death penalty for Buffalo supermarket shooter
Payton Gendron’s May 2022 shooting rampage resulted in 10 deaths. Authorities called it a racially motivated hate crime. Read more
Data shows most states moving away from use of the death penalty
Executions peaked in 1999 and have been on a mostly unbroken downward trajectory since then with more states ending the... Read more
Austin bishop celebrates special Mass in Texas prison for female death row inmates
The Mass, which took place at the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas, was part of a three-day conference... Read more
Oklahoma City archbishop urges governor to grant clemency to convicted murderer
A statewide board in Oklahoma this week narrowly recommended clemency for a man convicted of a double murder more than... Read more
Catholic anti-death penalty group hosts discussion featuring death row exonerees
Catholic Mobilizing Network hosted the Oct. 23 event at Xavier University in Cincinnati in partnership with other anti-death penalty organizations. Read more
Texas executes prisoner despite pleas for clemency from Catholic anti-death-penalty group
Jedidiah Murphy was put to death by lethal injection at the execution chamber in Huntsville on Tuesday night. Read more
Florida executes convicted double-murderer despite pleas from Catholic bishops
Michael Zack had been convicted of two 1996 murders: He stabbed Ravonne Smith to death and later beat to death... Read more
