Death Penalty

“Every human life, given by God, is sacred,” Florida’s Catholic bishops told Gov. Ron DeSantis Aug. 13 in urging him to stay the execution of William Silvia and commute his …

Before Florida held two executions July 28, its Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter urging Catholics to reflect on the Church’s death penalty opposition.

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The U.S. Supreme Court ended its 2025-2026 term with major rulings striking down President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship, and upholding West Virginia and Idaho …

Pope Leo: The development of AI technology must be accompanied by safeguards to protect human dignity, as it is “threatened by new forms of dehumanization.”

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The number of executions around the globe in 2025 surged to the highest recorded figure in 44 years, a new Amnesty International report said. The May 17 …

(OSV News) — As Ohio prepares for its upcoming gubernatorial election, faith leaders pushed lawmakers on May 4 to end the practice of capital punishment.  Ohio’s May 5 primary election will …

Pope Leo XIV sent a message of support to participants at a Catholic university event marking 15 years since the abolition of the death penalty in Illinois.

(OSV News) — Gov. Kay Ivey, R-Ala., announced March 10 she commuted the death sentence of Charles L. “Sonny” Burton to life in prison, a move lauded by Catholic death penalty …

“From the teaching of Our Lord, we must conclude that the death penalty is inappropriate because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the human person”

“To oppose the death penalty is to affirm hope — that no one, even a person who has committed a grave crime, is beyond the reach of grace.”