President Biden Commutes 37 Federal Death Sentences

In a historic move, President Joseph Biden announced in the early morning on December 23, 2024 that he commuted the sentences of 37 individuals on the federal death row to sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The President said this decision follows his Administration’s 2021 moratorium on executions and is guided by his conscience and experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and President.

“I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted,” says President Biden.

Catholic Mobilizing Network’s executive director Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy responded to this news saying, “Today’s historic decision by President Biden advances the cause of human dignity and underscores the sacred value of every human life. Praise God!”

Vaillancourt Murphy acknowledged that “while we rejoice that these lives have been spared the cruel and immoral punishment of death at the hands of the federal government, we recognize that today’s decision places the remaining three men on federal death row — while in the appeals process currently — at risk of execution in the future.”

She continued saying, “At CMN, we bear witness to the incomparable suffering that the families and loved ones of murder victims endure. We hear the cry for justice and accountability that grave harm rightly deserves. Because of our conviction that every person deserves the opportunity to transform hurt and suffering into healing, redemption, and wholeness, we celebrate today’s decision that underscores the sacred value of 37 lives and leaves open the possibility for repair and transformation to the greatest extent possible.”

Catholic Mobilizing Network will continue to pray that President Biden’s bold move will spur legislative action that ultimately leads to the abolition of the death penalty at every level of government throughout the United States.

Praise for this merciful action was similarly shared by leaders throughout the Catholic Church. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a statement, “My brother bishops and I unite in expressing our gratitude that President Biden has commuted the federal death sentences of 37 men. The bishops’ conference has long called for an end to the use of the death penalty. This action by the president is a significant step in advancing the cause of human dignity in our nation. As we continue to proclaim the Gospel in a broken world, this act of mercy is a step closer to building a culture of life.”

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, also responded in a statement saying, “I applaud President Biden’s decision to commute these death sentences. It is one important step toward a greater respect for human life — even the lives of those who may have brought such suffering and pain to the lives of others.”

This decision follows a cacophony of appeals from advocates urging President Biden to take decisive action to fulfill his campaign promise of ending the federal death penalty before leaving office. One voice that spoke loudly among them was that of Pope Francis, who has been a pastoral leader in the Catholic Church’s opposition to capital punishment.

In Early December, Pope Francis made a special appeal during his midday Angelus saying, “Today, I feel compelled to ask all of you to pray for the inmates on death row in the United States. Let us pray that their sentences may be commuted or changed. Let us think of these brothers and sisters of ours and ask the Lord for the grace to save them from death.”.

Pope Francis has also called for the abolition of the death penalty as a “tangible sign of hope” for the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025. Additionally, he named it as one of the three concrete actions which he urges the Church to take in honor of World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on January 1, 2025.

In January, President Biden will make his final international visit to Rome, following an invitation from Pope Francis. The two spoke on a phone call the week before this historic announcement of commutations.

Notable Media

Vatican News: President Biden commutes sentences of prisoners on death row
National Catholic Register: Biden Commutes Death Row Sentences of Nearly 40 Federal Prisoners
Crux: Biden commutes the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates, gives them life in prison
OSV News: Biden commutes most federal death sentences to life in prison
National Catholic Reporter: Catholics praise President Biden’s mercy for death penalty inmates
National Catholic Reporter: Pope Francis makes urgent appeal on behalf of US death row inmates

Statements

President Biden: Read statement
Catholic Mobilizing Network: Read statement
USCCB: Read statement
Cardinal Wilton Gregory: Read statement
White House Fact Sheet: Read more