Call for an end to capital punishment
2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.
If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.
Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm—without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself—the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity “are very rare, if not practically non-existent.
The Catholic bishops of Florida continue to urge our state leaders to reconsider the contradictory practice of state-sanctioned murder to punish and deter murder. The death penalty contributes to a growing disrespect for the sacredness of all human life. It feeds on an underlying sense of vengeance in our culture and adds to a callousness or coarseness towards one another. State-sanctioned killing does not deter or end violence, but instead it perpetuates a cycle of violence.
Florida Bishops Statement on Death Penalty
The dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform."
Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995
Governor DeSantis has signed three executions in 2023. Darryl Barwich is the third man scheduled for execution this year. The Catholic Bishops of Florida continue to urge our state leaders to reconsider the contradictory practice of state-sanctioned murder to punish and deter murder. The death penalty contributes to a growing disrespect for the sacredness of all human life. It feeds on an underlying sense of vengeance in our culture and adds to a callousness or coarseness towards one another.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops have written a letter to ask Governor DeSantis to stay the execution of Darryl Barwick. FL Bishops Letter
Florida Bishops are also asking parishes to join in prayer and to schedule a prayer vigil to end this culture of death and pray for Darryl Barwick, his family, and the victim's family.
March 31, 2023: Please stay execution of Louis Gaskin and commute his death sentence
To: Governor Ron DeSantis
From: Michael Sheedy, Executive Director
March 3, 2023: Opposition to SB 450 – End the cycle of violence; don’t facilitate it
To: The Honorable Blaise Ingoglia
From: Christie Arnold, FCCB associate for social concerns & respect life
February 6, 2023: Please stay execution of Donald Dillbeck and commute his death sentence
To: Governor Ron DeSantis
From: Michael Sheedy, Executive Director