In the Catholic Church in the United States, pastoral statements are offered by individual bishops in particular dioceses, state Catholic conferences of bishops, regional synods of bishops, or the national conference (USCCB) when seeking to apply universal church teaching to particular circumstances or issues. In the case of the death penalty, U.S. bishops have often been strong anti-death penalty advocates for persons sentenced to be executed. The list below includes more recent pastoral and state conference statements relating to Catholic teaching on the death penalty and its application to particular laws and state-sponsored executions.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Washington, D.C., and Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida submitted a triple byline Op-Ed to America Magazine condemning the federal government's decision to resume its use of capital punishment for the first time in 16 years.
In support of a strong innocence claim and in alignment with the Church's stance against the death penalty, the Florida Bishops issued a statement urging Governor Ron DeSantis to halt the execution of James Dailey on November 7, 2019.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City released this statement for October's Respect Life Month. He addresses the importance of human dignity in all circumstances, with an emphasis on the death penalty in his statement.
The Indiana Bishops, Charles C. Thompson, Kevin C. Rhoades, Timothy L. Doherty, Joseph M. Siegel, and Michael J. Yardon issued a statement on October 4, 2019 calling on the federal government, particularly President Trump, to rescind the decision to resume federal executions after a 16 year moratorium.
The Missouri Bishops issued a statement in response to the planned execution of Russel Bucklew on October 1 and the reinstatement of federal executions.
Tennessee Bishops Spalding, Stika, and Talley released a statement condemning the scheduled August 15 execution of Stephen Michael West.
On Monday, May 20, 2019, as a sign of solidarity and commitment to ending the death penalty and upholding the sanctity of all human life, the Florida Catholic Conference of Bishops sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to halt the execution of Robert Long, scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2019.
Read an excerpt of the letter below:
"With the clear and cogent clarification of the successor of St. Peter, there now exists no loophole to morally justify capital punishment."
"For some years now, I have expressed my concern that the death penalty is both cruel and unnecessary and I have called for its abolition. So, I welcome the changes to The Catechism of the Catholic Church on the death penalty and I am grateful for Pope Francis’ leadership in working for an end to judicial executions worldwide."
Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette has released a statement in support of the August 2, 2018 Catholic Catechism revision that declares the death penalty "inadmissible in all cases."
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