A Culture of life and the Death Penalty
A Statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
In the Bishops’ statement, it says our nation should forgo the use of the death penalty because:
Each of us is called to respect the life and dignity of every human being. Even when people deny the dignity of others, we must still recognize that their dignity is a gift from God and is not something that is earned or lost through their behavior.
The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society in fact has the means of effectively suppressing crime by rendering criminals harmless without definitively denying them the chance to reform. (Pope John Paul II. The Gospel of Life)
At a time when the sanctity of life is threatened in many ways, taking life is not really a solution but may instead effectively undermine respect for life...Public policies that treat some lives as unworthy of protection, or that are perceived as vengeful, fracture the moral conviction that human life is sacred. (USCCB)
Pending Executions for the State of Texas
Kevin Watts; October 16
Joseph Ries; October 21
Bobby Woods; October 23
Eric Nenno; October 28
Gregory Wright; October 30
We pray for all the victims of these crimes, the convicted killers, and their families, that they may find mercy, healing, forgiveness, and peace. Amen.