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.
In 2017, the Bishops of Nevada came out with a statement calling for an end to the death penalty in the state and for support to promote the dignity and sanctity of all life. At the time, there was a bill being debated in the legislature which sought to repeal the death penalty. A portion of the statement is read as follows:
In 2017, the Bishops of Montana came out with a statement calling for an end to the death penalty in the state and for support to promote the dignity and sanctity of all life. At the time, there was a bill being debated in the legislature which sought to repeal the death penalty. A portion of the statement is read as follows:
In early 2017, the Bishops of Virginia co-wrote a statement which was distribute state-wide. In the statement, the Bishops express a restatement of their position on the death penalty in Virginia. This statement was made in the midst of multiple scheduled executions. The statement reads as follows:
In early 2017, after sentence decisions were met for the infamous AME Church shooter, Dylann Roof, were made, Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone came out with a with a pastoral statement speaking about mercy, forgiveness and the Church's opposition to capital punishment. A part of Bishop Guglielmone's statement is read as follows:
In December 2016, Bishop Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, wrote a letter to his diocese urging all to advocate for the sacredness of all life. In it, he urges advocacy to see the abolition of the death penalty in Ohio. Also, Bishop Thomas calls on the Governor to end executions and support death penalty repeal legislation. In short, the letter says:
“Capital punishment vitiates our hearts’ capacity for mercy and love,” the bishops write, noting that “the death penalty not only does not correspond to the common good, it actually does great harm to it.”
In 2016, the Bishops of Mississippi and Alabama came out with a statement calling for an end to the death penalty in the state and for support to promote the dignity and sanctity of all life. At the time, there was a murder of two religious sisters which sparked nation-wide outrage and calls for capital punishment. A portion of the statement is read as follows:
In 2016, in response to the New Mexico Governor's statements supporting reinstating the death penalty, the Bishops of New Mexico came out with a strongly worded statement. In part, the statement reads:
In 2016, the Bishops of California came out with a statement calling for an end to the death penalty in the state and for support to promote the dignity and sanctity of all life. At the time, there were two Proposition Bills to be decided by the voters which dealt with the status of the death penalty in California. A portion of the statement is read as follows:
"During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we, the Catholic Bishops of California support Proposition 62 which would end the use of the death penalty in California.
In 2015, the Bishops of Nebraska came out with a statement calling for an end to the death penalty in the state and for support to promote the dignity and sanctity of all life. At the time, the fate of the death penalty in Nebraska was set as a referendum measure to be decided by a vote in the 2016 election. A portion of the statement is read as follows:
“Todos los cristianos y hombres de buena voluntad están llamadas hoy a trabajar no sólo por la abolición de la pena de muerte, sino también para mejorar las condiciones de las cárceles, en el respeto de la dignidad humana de las personas privadas de libertad.” - Papa Francisco
More than 25,000 Catholics and people of faith have already pledged to educate, advocate, and pray for an end to the death penalty. Add your name to help build a culture of life.
