Catholic bishops call for an end to federal executions

Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops demanded President Donald Trump and others halt all federal executions.

“‘We say to President Trump and Attorney General Barr: Enough,” the bishops wrote in a statement. “Stop these executions.”

The strong words came in a statement issued  Sept. 22.

The Conference pointed out that since July, there have been five federal executions in 2020, which is more executions than were carried out in any year in the last century.

“After the first murder recorded in the Bible, God did not end Cain’s life, but rather preserved it, warning others not to kill Cain (Gn. 4:15),” the bishops wrote.

“As the Church, we must give concrete help to victims of violence, and we must encourage the rehabilitation and restoration of those who commit violence.”

The statement was issued by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities.