U.S. Bishop Chairman Welcomes Repeal of Death Penalty in Virginia

Chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development Archbishop Paul Coakley, of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, thanked Governor Ralph Northam for signing legislation this week to repeal the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He said, "I welcome Virginia's repeal of the death penalty as a bold step towards a culture of life. Virginia will become the twenty-third state to abolish the death penalty, and I urge all other states and the federal government to do the same." He went on to say that, "This Lent, we are called once again to repent and believe in the Gospel. We are reminded that God created and loves every human life, no matter how broken, unformed, disabled or desperate that life may seem."