Urge President Biden — Commute the Federal Death Row

Join us in urging President Joe Biden to honor the sanctity of life by commuting the sentences of the 40 individuals currently on federal death row.

Catholics and people of goodwill are calling on President Joe Biden, a Catholic, to take this concrete and compassionate step to save lives. By commuting these sentences, President Biden can offer these men a chance for redemption and demonstrate a commitment to upholding the dignity of all human life.

To President Joe Biden:

As your presidency approaches its conclusion, you have a unique opportunity to cement your legacy grounded in compassion and justice. By commuting the sentences of the 40 men currently on federal death row, you can make a lasting and decisive impact on the future of capital punishment in the United States. Such an act would ensure that your presidency is remembered not only for halting federal executions but for choosing mercy over retribution in the face of difficult moral questions.

During your campaign, you opposed the death penalty, particularly in response to the federal execution spree carried out under the Trump administration following a 17-year hiatus. We are grateful for your 2021 moratorium on federal executions, but we know that this alone cannot guarantee the protection of those on death row, nor does it prevent future administrations from resuming executions. We know that the federal death row, just as in the states, is marred by significant arbitrariness, including racial bias and the imposition on vulnerable individuals such as those with intellectual disability, brain damage, and serious mental illness.

As we approach the historic Jubilee Year of 2025, a time when Pope Francis has called for “forgiveness, reconciliation, and an end to every form of death penalty,” we ask you to act in the spirit of mercy and justice:

Commute the sentences of all 40 men currently on federal death row.

Pope Francis has consistently condemned the death penalty as an assault on the dignity of the human person and urged us to work for its abolition. By commuting these sentences, you would align with this clarion call, upholding the values of mercy, reconciliation, and justice.

The upcoming Jubilee Year of 2025 is a moment of profound renewal and forgiveness, a time to heal wounds and show compassion. By taking this action, you would offer a powerful testimony of your dedication to life and justice, leaving a legacy rooted in mercy.

President Biden, we urge you to act swiftly and decisively in commuting these sentences. Doing so will reflect the values of our shared Catholic faith, offer a chance for redemption, and honor the dignity of every human person.