Missouri Bishops Issue Death Penalty Statement

This week, the Catholic Bishops issued a statement on the continued use of the death penalty. The statement is in response to Missouri issuing an execution warrant for Russell Bucklew for October 1 and the federal government's announcement that it will once again begin utilizing the death penalty for certain crimes. In the statement, the bishops reiterated Pope Francis' call for a "global abolition of the death penalty" and noted the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person." The bishops reaffirm their opposition to the death penalty and call on people to take a stand for life, justice, healing and mercy by opposing the continued use of the death penalty.