Death Penalty
The Latest
Virginia bishops on the death penalty: We're having the wrong debate
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
The Australian bishops joined their voices to the international condemnation of the Indonesian government's execution of foreign drug traffickers last... Read more
Twenty years after bombing, Oklahoma City archbishop calls for mercy to temper justice
As the Oklahoma City community continues to heal two decades after the horrific bombing that claimed the lives of 168... Read more
Bishops appeal against death penalty in Boston bombing case
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
Firing squads, gas chambers and the electric chair – these types of execution may seem like methods of the past,... Read more
Pope Francis: No matter what the crime, 'the death penalty is inadmissible'
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
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
The Catholic bishops in Texas thanked a federal appeals court for issuing a stay of execution for mentally ill inmate... Read more
Death penalty suspended in Ohio as lethal drugs questioned
Following the controversial botched execution of an inmate in Ohio, using a new lethal-injection mixture, a federal judge has decided... Read more
Ariz. inmate's grueling execution lamented as preventable
Not only could the nearly two-hour execution of an Arizona inmate last week have been avoided, but the number of... Read more
Death sentence for Christian in Sudan draws global criticism
A pregnant woman who was raised as a Christian has been sentenced to execution by a Sudanese court that contends... Read more
Botched execution shows death penalty's brutality, bishop says
Commenting on the April 29 bungled execution of a death row inmate at the state penitentiary, Oklahoma City’s archbishop has... Read more
Priest lauds temporary halt of Washington death penalty
Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state has issued a moratorium or temporary prohibition on executions, drawing praise from a priest... Read more
Death penalty debate aims to give public voice to Church
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
As the scheduled execution date approaches for a Florida man convicted of murder, local Catholics are offering prayers and renewing... Read more
Denver archbishop calls for end to Colo. death penalty
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
Catholics in Maryland are welcoming the repeal of the death penalty in the state as a step towards a culture... Read more
Maryland advances towards abolishing death penalty
The Maryland senate has passed a bill that would locally overturn the death penalty, placing the state closer to outlawing... Read more
Archbishop testifies for repeal of Maryland death penalty
Speaking at a legislative hearing in Maryland, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore supported efforts to end the death penalty... Read more
Gov. Jindal rejects request to halt Ash Wednesday execution
Gov. Bobby Jindal has rejected the Louisiana Catholic bishops' request to halt the scheduled Ash Wednesday execution of a convicted... Read more
