Death Penalty
-
Background
"Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person," and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide." Catechism of the Catholic Church #2267
Standing for Life
The Catholic Church has long supported alternatives to capital punishment. Click to download this one pager which outlines the history of Catholic opposition to the death penalty and how to create a more restorative path forward: English | Spanish
Additional Catholic Teaching
Act
- Prayer to end the Death Penalty
- Take the National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty
- Write to your state legislators and urge them to abolish the death penalty.
- Take part in a prayer vigil scheduled the day of an execution.
- Host a Death Penalty workshop at your parish; use the USCCB resource to design a workshop
Learn
Listen to a KBVM interview with Brother Dale Recinella on The Biblical Truth about America's Death Penalty
Listen to Ron Steiner of Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and Karen Clifton, Director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, on Mater Dei Radio
Not in Our Name: Murder Victims’ Families Speak Out Against the Death PenaltyEducate Your Parish
- Till Death Do Us Part: End the Death Penalty
- Culture of Life and Oregon's Death Penalty
- The Death Penalty: An Inconsistent Ethic of Life
USCCB
- The Death Penalty: A Most Barbaric Response to Crime
- Pro-Life and Domestic Human Development Joint Statement Opposing the Death Penalty
- Victory for Human Life and Dignity! Illinois Repeals Death Penalty
- Capital Punishment
- Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty (website)
- Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty (download)
Archbishop John Vlazny
RECOMMENDED Partners and WEBSITES
- Catholic Mobilizing Network Monthly Newsletter
- Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty
- Oregon Justice Resource Center
- Equal Justice Initiative
- Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
- OADP Newsletter
- Catholic Sentinel on Death Penalty