USCCB Resources

A Good Friday Reflection to End the Use of the Death Penalty

“On this Good Friday, a day when we recall our Savior’s own execution, we appeal to all people of good-will, and especially Catholics, to work to end the death penalty.” – Pope John Paul II, 1999

This brochure – suitable for printing and distribution – offers reflections on the death penalty for Good Friday, an update on progress to end the use of the death penalty around the world, and prayer and other resources that will inform and enrich Catholics who want to learn more about the call to restorative justice.

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A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death

In A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death, the bishops call our nation to abandon the use of the death penalty as we move one step closer to building a culture of life. As a tool for education and reflection, this pastoral statement is an effort to help Catholics better understand and apply the Church’s teaching on the death penalty.

Purchase on the USCCB website

Life Matters: The Death Penalty (2011)

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops has released a new version of its pamphlet “Life Matters: The Death Penalty” to coincide with October’s designation as “Respect Life Month.” The Catholic Mobilizing Network encourges you to download the pamphlet, print and share in your parish or other faith community.

Download the Pamphlet

State Catholic Conference and Individual Bishops’ Statements

This is a catalog of statements issued by state Catholic Conferences and individual bishops on Catholic teaching and the death penalty between the years 1995 and 2005, inclusive. Provided by the USCCB.

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We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

By Maureen Kramlich, Esq.

It is too easy to present the question of capital punishment in the form of “us vs. them,” as a conflict between innocent victims of murder and their attackers. At times the most eloquent and sincere opponents of the death penalty are those who have suffered the most at the hands of violent criminals. They urge us to look beyond the instinct for vengeance, to the infinitely loving God whose children we all are. In the end, the defining issue is not how wicked the criminal’s actions are, but how we should respond if we are to become a society that more fully reveres and respects human life.

View the Article on the USCCB website

What Every Catholic Should Know About the Death Penalty Fact Sheet

This bulletin insert, also available as part of Workshop A, offers a thorough explanation of Catholic teaching on the death penalty: ”Catholic teaching offers a unique perspective on crime and punishment. It begins with the recognition that the dignity of the human person applies to both victims and offenders. It affirms our commitment to comfort and support victims and their families, while acknowledging the God-given dignity of every human life, even those who do great harm.”

Download the Fact Sheet