While U.S. public opinion is shifting against the use of the death penalty, there was a near 100% increase in executions in 2025. The Death Penalty Information Center reported that there were 48 prisoner executions in 2025, up from 25 prisoner executions in 2024....
A recent study published by EWTN and RealClear Opinion Research revealed that a majority of American Catholics support the death penalty for convicted murderers and the broad-scale deportation of immigrants who are in the United States illegally. The poll, conducted...
In 2024, there were 25 people executed in the United States. In 2025, there have already been 44 executions, and three more are scheduled this month. To combat this rise, Catholics and pro-life conservatives joined a broad coalition of more than 50 organizations...
Bishops in multiple U.S. states are leading efforts to spare the lives of prisoners on death row. More than 1,600 prisoners have been executed since the death penalty’s re-legalization by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976. The state of Texas has executed 596 prisoners...
At 6 p.m. on October 14, 2025, the state of Missouri executed Lance Shockley for the murder of Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham. In his final public statement, Shockley said, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will...
Less than one week remains before the scheduled execution of Lance Shockley at 6 pm on October 14, 2025. Shockley was convicted of the murder of Sergeant Carl Dewayne Graham, a Missouri State Trooper. The Missouri Catholic Conference has submitted a letter to the...
October 1 marks the first day of Respect Life Month. Celebrated each October in the U.S. Catholic Church, Respect Life Month is an invitation to reflect more deeply on the God-given dignity of all human life. During this month, Catholics across the United States...
The Missouri Catholic Conference’s Legislative Counsel, Curt Wichmer, recently met with Emmjolee Mendoza-Waters, Director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network’s (CMN) Death Penalty Abolition Program, on the MCC from the Capitol Podcast. Topics of discussion included an...
On June 24th, the Missouri Supreme Court ordered the execution of Lance Shockley to occur at 6 pm on October 14th, 2025. Shockley was convicted for the March 20th, 2005, murder of a Missouri State Trooper, Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham, in Van Buren, MO. Shockley filed...
Closing out the final pending clemency petitions of his administration, Governor Mike Parson granted 16 pardons and approved nine commutations. Click here for the list. In addition to granting 16 pardons and nine commutations, Governor Parson denied 23 clemency...