At 6 p.m. on December 3, 2024, the state of Missouri executed Christopher Collings for the 2007 rape and murder of nine-year-old Rowan Ford. Prior to his execution, Collings issued a final statement in which he accepted the situation and apologized to those he had wronged, wishing them closure.
On the day of the execution, the Missouri Catholic Conference held a respectful protest at the Missouri Capitol building in concert with the Missourians for the Abolition of the Death Penalty organization. At the conclusion of the rally, the group delivered to the governor’s office a clemency petition that had been signed by over five thousand people. Collings’ execution was the fourth Missouri execution carried out in 2024. For the moment, no additional executions are currently scheduled in the state of Missouri.
The Catholic Church is strongly opposed to the death penalty because it disregards the sanctity and dignity of human life. If you would like to contact Governor Parson regarding capital punishment in Missouri, you can reach his office via phone at (573) 751-3222 or email him here.