U.S. Bishop Chairmen Renew Call to Halt Executions

In the wake of more federal executions scheduled in the coming weeks, two chairmen of the USCCB have issued a statement calling on the Trump administration to act as a witness to the dignity of all human life. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, Chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-life Activities called on the Administration to halt the three executions scheduled for the remainder of the year. If carried out, they would make a total of 10 federal executions in 2020.

"The death penalty is not necessary to protect society," the bishops state. "The decision not to execute someone, even someone who has done something terrible, is not 'soft on crime'; it is strong on the dignity of life."

One of the upcoming executions is Lisa Montgomery, a native of Kansas, who was convicted of strangling pregnant Bobbie Jo Stinnett, of Missouri, and cutting her unborn child from her womb. The baby survived. The Missouri Catholic Conference also sent a clemency request to President Trump. In the letter, the MCC noted that Ms. Montgomery has a history of mental illness and was a victim of extreme sexual abuse, including sex trafficking by her parents. Her execution date, set for December 8th, has been delayed.