State Catholic Conference and Individual Bishops' Statements
CALIFORNIA:
“The Gospel of Life and Capital Punishment: A Reflection Piece and Study Guide,”
by the California Catholic Conference, July 1999.
“A Witness to Life: The Catholic Church and the Death Penalty,”
by Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, May 25, 2000.
COLORADO:
“Turning Away from Violence: An Appeal by the Bishops of Colorado to End the Death Penalty,”
May 10, 2001.
“Supreme Court Ruling on Death Penalty Encouraging; Now Let’s Do More,”
by Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., March 9, 2005.
CONNECTICUT
Statement on Abolition of the Death Penalty
Roman Catholic Bishops of Connecticut, January 12, 2005
FLORIDA:
“Catholic Church Teaching on the Death Penalty,”
a brochure issued by the Florida Catholic Conference, June 2002.
“Talking About the Death Penalty,”
a 13-min. video issued by the Florida Catholic Conference
and available for viewing and downloading
ILLINOIS:
“Lenten Statement on Death Penalty Moratorium,”
by Chicago Cardinal Francis George, April 19, 2000.
INDIANA:
“Talking About the Death Penalty: Facts and Considerations,”
by the Indiana Catholic Conference.
IOWA:
“Statement on the Death Penalty,”
by the Catholic Bishops of Iowa, Feb. 4, 1998.
KENTUCKY:
“Choose Life: Reflections on the Death Penalty, a pastoal letter by the Catholic Bishops of Kentucky.”
MASSACHUSETTS:
“Massachusetts Catholic Bishops’ Statement on Capital Punishment,”
Feb. 20, 2001.
“The Gospel of Life vs. the Death Penalty: Pastoral Letter on Capital
Punishment,”
by Boston Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap, Feb. 25, 1999.
MICHIGAN:
“Statement on the Death Penalty,”
by the Michigan Catholic Conference, March 3, 1999.
MINNESOTA:
“Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Minnesota Opposing the Death Penalty,”
Dec. 3, 2003.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
“Letter to The Honorable David A. Welch on the House Bill 1422,”
January 10, 2006.
NEW JERSEY:
Statement in Support of S-709
December 15, 2005
“Statement of the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey on the Death Penalty,”
February 4, 2005
“Capital Punishment in New Jersey: A Statement from the State’s Catholic Bishops,”
Aug. 18, 1999.
NEW MEXICO:
“NM Bishops Support 2005 Crime/Family Restitution Program,”
Jan. 27,2005.
“New Mexico Catholic Conference Opposes Death Penalty and Calls for Prison Reform,”
Sept. 7, 1995.
NEW YORK:
Family Life/Respect Life: Abolish the Death Penalty
January 25, 2005
Testimony of the New York State Catholic Conference Regarding The Death Penalty in New York
December 15, 2004
“Death Is Not the Answer: A Reaffirmation of Opposition to Capital Punishment by the New York State Catholic Bishops,”
Feb. 15, 1994.
NORTH DAKOTA:
“Reverence for Life and the Preservation of the Common Good: A Statement from the North Dakota Catholic Conference Concerning the Death Penalty,”
Jan. 1995.
OHIO:
“Affirming Justice and Mercy: Reassessing the Death Penalty, by the Catholic Bishops of Ohio,”
June 28, 1996.
PENNSYLVANIA:
“The Death Penalty - Choose Life: A Statement on Capital Punishment,”
by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Feb. 2001.
“A Fresh Look at the Death Penalty,”
by Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, March 22, 2005.
TEXAS:
“Statement by the Catholic Bishops of Texas on Capital Punishment,”
Oct. 1997.
“Statement by the Catholic Bishops of Texas Opposing the Execution of
the Mentally Retarded,”
1998.
WISCONSIN:
“Capital Punishment in Wisconsin: A Statement from the State’s Roman
Catholic Bishops,”
June 1995.