Statement from Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy following the execution of Taberon Honie in Utah

At 12:25 a.m. MT, in the early hours of August 8, Utah executed Taberon Honie by lethal injection for the murder of Claudia Benn. This execution was the first Utah conducted in more than a decade, since the 2010 execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner by firing squad.

Mr. Honie’s execution is a departure from how Utah had been trending. In its 14-year-hiatus of executions, Utah had nearly abolished the death penalty. Two formerly pro-death penalty Republican legislators introduced a bill in 2022 that would have effectively repealed and replaced capital punishment in Utah. The bill was just one vote shy of passing out of committee.

National trends continue to show the waning support for the death penalty. Utah’s regressive step to resume executions is out of step with public sentiment and out of line with the Catholic belief that all life is sacred.

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Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, responded to the execution of Taberon Honie saying:

“Hidden under the cloak of darkness, Utah took a major step backward early this morning in taking the life of Taberon Honie. It was the first execution to take place in the state in 14 years. The fact that Utah has resumed executions after more than a decade is a reminder to us all that the death penalty is not about safety, it’s not about healing, and it’s not even about justice. This morning’s execution was completely unnecessary and an act of state-sanctioned violence rooted in vengeance.

The death penalty is not needed in our societies—not in Utah, and not anywhere.

Support for the death penalty continues to decline. And it’s certainly out of line with our Catholic values and the belief in the sanctity of life.

How telling that Utah conducted Mr. Honie’s execution in the wee hours of the morning—a time where it is assured that limited eyes would be watching.

However, in the Gospel of Luke we are reminded, “[W]hatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:3)

Despite Utah’s efforts to hide in the dark of night, this execution will be brought into the light of day and remembered for what it was: a tragic act contrary to human dignity.

Today we mourn the death of Taberon Honie. We mourn the loss of his victim, Claudia Benn, and we pray for the family and friends that love them both.

Let this execution be a reminder to each of us that as long as the death penalty remains on the books, lives are at risk. We must continue to work to end capital punishment across the United States.”

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Headquartered in Washington, DC, Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) is a national organization that mobilizes Catholics and people of goodwill to end the death penalty, advance justice solutions in alignment with Catholic values, and promote healing through restorative justice approaches and practices. For more information and to join the movement, visit catholicsmobilizing.org.