We are at a critical juncture in the U.S. death penalty abolition movement. And we as Catholics—including President Biden—can heed the words of Pope Francis and light the way.
Death Penalty
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
A busy weekend for Pope Francis: The Immaculate Conception, a consistory and prayers for death row inmates in the United States
Pope Francis offered a heartfelt appeal for death row prisoners in the United States, which significantly comes as Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in the country’s history, nears the end of his term.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Missouri to execute Marcellus Williams despite doubts about guilt
Missouri plans to proceed with the lethal injection of Marcellus Williams on Sept. 24, despite doubts about his guilt and widespread backlash.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis says death penalty fuels ‘poison’ of revenge in preface to new book on prison chaplaincy
Drawing on work of lay Catholic prison chaplain Dale Recinella, Pope Francis paints death penalty as toxic and ineffective.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
We’re all Cafeteria Catholics
Statistician Ryan Burge set out to learn how many Catholics agree with church teachings on three key pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The answer? Fewer than 1 percent.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
President Biden’s broken promise on the death penalty
The people who can abolish the death penalty are our policymakers. And it appears Mr. Biden is comfortable leaving it in place.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Texas executes death-row inmate despite allegations of false testimony at trial
Ivan Cantu was executed Feb. 28 by the state of Texas despite claims that his conviction was based on false testimony.
Posted inPolitics & Society, The Weekly Dispatch
Alabama death row inmate Kenneth Smith may already be dead by the time you read this.
Alabama plans to put an industrial-grade respirator mask over Mr. Smith’s face and replace his breathing air with pure nitrogen gas, causing him to die from lack of oxygen. He will not be rendered unconscious before the procedure begins.
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
A prayer for death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith
Kenneth Eugene Smith will face execution by the state of Alabama tonight. I pray that God may grant him peace.
Posted inArts & Culture, Theater
‘Dead Man Walking’: An operatic exploration of Sister Helen Prejean’s death row ministry
“Dead Man Walking” is a deeply human story about truth, forgiveness and the possibility of redemption. It is a journey into which everyone—from the singers to the audience—is invited.