USCCB - JPHD | Death Penalty

Statements by state Catholic conferences and individual bishops

Statements by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

General Statements

A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death English l Spanish

A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty

2000 Criminal Justice Statement

Cardinal Bernadin’s Testimony on the Death Penalty as Chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro Life Activities

First Comprehensive Statement by the U.S. Bishops Calling for an End to the Use of the Death Penalty

First USCCB Statement on the Death Penalty by Archbishop Bernardin

On Timothy McVeigh

Bishop Skylstad after the Verdict of Death for Timothy McVeigh

Cardinal Keehler and Cardinal Mahony before the Execution of Timothy McVeigh

Cardinal Law and Bishop Skylstad Statement After the Execution of Timothy McVeigh

OTHER

Cardinal McCarrick on Supporting Justice for All Act

Cardinal McCarrick on Expanding the Death Penalty for Terrorists

Bishop Skylstad's Statement on the Execution of Carla Fay Tucker

Statements by State Catholic Conferences and Individual Bishops

ALASKA

“Thought for the Week: Second Sunday of Lent – ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’”
by the Archdiocese of Anchorage, March 7, 2006

CALIFORNIA

“The Gospel of Life and Capital Punishment: A Reflection Pieace and Study Guide,”
by the California Catholic Conference, July 1999.

“A Witness to Life: The Catholic Church and the Death Penalty,”
by Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, May 25, 2000.

COLORADO

“Turning Away from Violence: An Appeal by the Bishops of Colorado to End the Death Penalty,” May 10, 2001.

“Supreme Court Ruling on Death Penalty Encouraging; Now Let’s Do More,”
by Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., March 9, 2005.

CONNECTICUT

Statement on Abolition of the Death Penalty Roman Catholic Bishops of Connecticut, January 12, 2005

FLORIDA

“Catholic Church Teaching on the Death Penalty,”
a brochure issued by the Florida Catholic Conference, June 2002.

“Talking About the Death Penalty,”
a 13-min. video issued by the Florida Catholic Conference
and available for viewing and downloading

“Statement to Spare Paul Hill”
by Florida Catholic Conference, September 2003

ILLINOIS

“Lenten Statement on Death Penalty Moratorium,” by Chicago Cardinal Francis George, April 19, 2000.

INDIANA

“Talking About the Death Penalty: Facts and Considerations,” by the Indiana Catholic Conference.

IOWA

“Statement on the Death Penalty,” by the Catholic Bishops of Iowa, Feb. 4, 1998.

KENTUCKY

“Choose Life: Reflections on the Death Penalty, a pastoal letter by the Catholic Bishops of Kentucky.”

“A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice: A Kentucky Call to responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration” by the Kentucky Catholic Conference, December 2005

“Homily on Capital Punishment” by Rev. Richard Sullivan, February 13, 2000

LOUISIANA

“Violence in Our Society: Death is not the Answer” by the Catholic Bishops of Louisiana, June 2, 1994

MARYLAND

“Testimony to the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment”
By the Maryland Catholic Conference, August 19, 2008

MASSACHUSETTS

“Massachusetts Catholic Bishops’ Statement on Capital Punishment,” Feb. 20, 2001.

“The Gospel of Life vs. the Death Penalty: Pastoral Letter on Capital Punishment,”
by Boston Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap, Feb. 25, 1999.

“Oral Remarks of Ed Saunders to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Concerning the Death Penalty”
by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, October 23, 2007

“The Pilot: The Death Penalty” by Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley, May 7, 2004

MICHIGAN

“Statement on the Death Penalty,” by the Michigan Catholic Conference, March 3, 1999.

MINNESOTA

“Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Minnesota Opposing the Death Penalty,” Dec. 3, 2003.

MISSOURI

“Statement on the Death Penalty,” by the Catholic Bishops of Missouri, March 30, 2006

MONTANA

“Death Penalty Forum Article” by the Montana Catholic Conference, February 2007

NEW HAMPSHIRE

“Letter to The Honorable David A. Welch on the House Bill 1422,” January 10, 2006

“Letter from Bishop John McCormack to The Honorable William V. Knowles,” Marcy 14, 2007

NEW JERSEY

Statement in Support of S-709 December 15, 2005

“Statement of the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey on the Death Penalty,” February 4, 2005

“Capital Punishment in New Jersey: A Statement from the State’s Catholic Bishops,”
Aug. 18, 1999.

“Statement of the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey on the Death Penalty,” November 26, 2007

NEW MEXICO

“NM Bishops Support 2005 Crime/Family Restitution Program,” Jan. 27,2005.

“New Mexico Catholic Conference Opposes Death Penalty and Calls for Prison Reform,” Sept. 7, 1995.

NEW YORK

Family Life/Respect Life: Abolish the Death Penalty January 25, 2005

Testimony of the New York State Catholic Conference Regarding The Death Penalty in New York December 15, 2004

“Death Is Not the Answer: A Reaffirmation of Opposition to Capital Punishment by the New York State Catholic Bishops,” Feb. 15, 1994.

NORTH DAKOTA

“Reverence for Life and the Preservation of the Common Good: A Statement from the North Dakota Catholic Conference Concerning the Death Penalty,” Jan. 1995.

OHIO

“Affirming Justice and Mercy: Reassessing the Death Penalty, by the Catholic Bishops of Ohio,” June 28, 1996.

PENNSYLVANIA

“The Death Penalty - Choose Life: A Statement on Capital Punishment,” by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Feb. 2001.

“A Fresh Look at the Death Penalty,” by Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, March 22, 2005.

“Re-examine Pennsylvania’s Death Penalty,” by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, May 2007

SOUTH DAKOTA

“Statement on the Death Penalty”
by The Most Reverend Blace Cupich, Bishop of Rapid City and The Most Reverend Paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux Falls, June 30, 2007

TEXAS

“Statement by the Catholic Bishops of Texas on Capital Punishment,” Oct. 1997.

“Statement by the Catholic Bishops of Texas Opposing the Execution of the Mentally Retarded,” 1998.

“Letter to The House of Representatives on Jessica’s Law”
by the Texas Catholic Conference, February 2007

VIRGINIA

“Deeper Re-examination of the Death Penalty,” by the Virginia Catholic Conference, April 3, 2007

WASHINGTON

“A Call for the Abolition of the Death Penalty,”
by the Washington State Catholic Conference, January 2000

WISCONSIN

“Capital Punishment in Wisconsin: A Statement from the State’s Roman Catholic Bishops,” June 1995.

“Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on the Death Penalty”
by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, June, 2006