Death Penalty

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.”

An October 2025 Gallup poll found that a slim majority of Americans (52%) said they favor the death penalty for people convicted of murder.

Florida’s Catholic bishops have urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay executions scheduled for Dec. 9 and Dec. 18.

“It is more important than ever that we shine a light on capital punishment’s failures and come together to show growing bipartisan support for ending executions,” said the director of …