“[T]he death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2267
Happening Now
U.S. Bishop Chairmen on Supreme Court’s Ruling in Ramirez v. Collier
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 30, 2022
U.S. Bishop Chairmen on Justice Department’s Moratorium on Federal Executions
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, July 3, 2021
U.S. Bishop Chairman Welcomes Repeal of Death Penalty in Virginia
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 24, 2021
Policy and Advocacy on Capital Punishment-Death Penalty
Background Information
Backgrounder on the Death Penalty
February 2011
Facts About the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Information Center July 10, 2012
The Church and the Death Penalty: Questions and Answers
2011 Respect Life Program: The Death Penalty
Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty: Info Sheet
Prayer to End the Use of the Death Penalty
What You Can Do to End the Death Penalty
A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death
2021-Present
Statement on Supreme Court’s Ruling in Ramirez v. Collier
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 30, 2022
Statement on Justice Department’s Moratorium on Federal Executions
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, July 3, 2021
Statement Welcoming Repeal of Death Penalty in Virginia
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 24, 2021
Letter to Congress Calling for the End of the Federal Death Penalty
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, January 11, 2021
Call for End to Executions and Ask Congress to Abolish Federal Death Penalty
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, January 11, 2021
2015-2020
Recalling the Meaning of Advent, Call for End to Executions
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, December 7, 2020
Statement Renewing Call to Stop Executions
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, November 18, 2020
Statement on Federal Executions Scheduled This Week
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, September 22, 2020
Statement Lamenting Additional Federal Executions
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, August 27, 2020
Statement Calling on Administration to Reverse Course on Federal Executions
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, June 30, 2020
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, July 30, 2019
Statement on the Planned Executions in Arkansas
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, April 13, 2017
Call for Recommitment to Bishop's Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty
Cardinal Sean O'Malley and Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, July 16, 2015
Statement Welcoming Supreme Court Decision to Review Protocols for Use of Lethal Injection
Cardinal Sean O'Malley and Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, January 27, 2015
2013-2000
Bishop Blaire Welcomes Repeal Of Death Penalty In Maryland
May 2, 2013
Bishops Welcome Connecticut Death Penalty Repeal
April 26, 2012
USCCB, Illinois Bishops Laud State's Death Penalty Repeal
March 10, 2011
Bishops Congratulate New Mexico on Death Penalty's Repeal
March 19, 2009
Bishops Urge New Mexico's Governor to Sign Death Penalty Repeal
Bishop William F. Murphy, March 16, 2009
Letter to Senate on The Streamlined Procedure Acts of 2005
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, July 13, 2005
Bishops Launch Major Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty |En Español
March 21, 2005
Response to U.S. Supreme Court Decision Roper v. Simmons
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, March 1, 2005
Letter to Conferees on the 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act
October 21, 2004
Letter to President George W. Bush on the Justice for All Act of 2004
Bishop Wilton Gregory, October 15, 2004
Supreme Court and Juvenile Death Penalty
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, July 19, 2004
Bishops Commend Governor's Clemency to Death Row Inmates
January 16, 2003
101 Reasons to Abandon the Death Penalty
April 18, 2002
Statement on the Execution of Timothy McVeigh
Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, June 11, 2001
Statement on the Approaching Execution of Timothy McVeigh
Roger Cardinal Mahoney and William Cardinal Keeler, May 2, 2001
Letter to President Clinton Calling for a Moratorium on the Death Penalty
Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, July 10, 2000
Address to the National Press Club on the Church and the Death Penalty
Roger Cardinal Mahoney, May 25, 2000
Letter to President Clinton Urging Suspension of Executions
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, February 9, 2000
Prior to 2000
Statement: To End the Death Penalty
December 3, 1999
Statement: A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty
USCCB Administrative Board, April 2, 1999
Colorado
Statement by Archbishop of Denver
June 6, 1997
Delaware
Delaware Ecumenical Statement, 1992
District of Columbia
Letter to Parishioners on the Death Penalty
James Cardinal Hickey, September 14, 1997
Statement of the Death Penalty
William Cardinal Baum, December 27, 1976
Florida
Death Penalty: Parish Resolution
St. Mary, Mother of Mercy, MacClenny, FL, June 1, 1999
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Gracida, June 1976
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop of Florida, November 1972
Georgia
Georgia Ecumenical Statement, 1980
Statement on the Death Penalty
Archbishop of Atlanta, 1992
Kentucky
Parish Resolution to Abolish the Death Penalty
Our Mother of God Church, Covington, Kentucky, May 24, 1999
Statement on the Death Penalty
Catholic Bishops of Kentucky, December 1996
Iowa
Iowa Catholic Bishops' Statement on Death Penalty
February 4, 1998
Minnesota
Testimony before the Judicial Committee
Bishop John F. Kinney, December 7, 1995
Montana
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Brunett of Helena, 1995
Statement on the Death Penalty
Montana Catholic Conference, November 1981
Nevada
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Joseph Green, December 15, 1973
Ohio
Statement on the Death Penalty
Catholic Bishops of Ohio, June 28,1996
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ecumenical Statement, 1990
Oklahoma Bishops Statement Addendum, 1983
Oregon
Statement on the Death Penalty
Oregon Catholic Bishops, October 1984
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Ecumenical Statement, 1976
Virginia
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, December 1992
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, July 1992
Texas
Texas Ecumencial Statement, 1998
Statement Against an Execution
Bishops of Texas, January 1992
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Vincent M. Harris, 1977
Statement on the Death Penalty
Bishop Francis J. Furey, 1977
For the latest updates on efforts to end the death penalty, visit Catholic Mobilizing Network. Contact us for more information.