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Catholic group urges Biden to commute federal death row sentences

Homilies

American Catholic Tribune Nov 8, 2024

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Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Catholic Mobilizing Network, an organization advocating against capital punishment in accordance with Catholic teachings, has called on President Joe Biden to take action regarding the death penalty before his term ends. The group issued a statement on November 6, urging Biden to commute the sentences of 40 individuals currently on federal death row.

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of CMN, highlighted that Biden was the first U.S. president to campaign on an anti-death penalty platform in 2020. She emphasized the importance of Biden acting during the lame-duck period before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office again. Trump has expressed intentions to expand capital punishment.

Vaillancourt Murphy stated, “As faithful anti-death penalty advocates, we know lives hang in the balance; we are ready to act.” She added that CMN would intensify efforts to encourage Biden to commute these sentences before leaving office in January.

Biden's administration had previously announced a moratorium on federal executions after he was elected. However, some activists argue that he has not fully delivered on his promise to end capital punishment and that his administration has defended some existing death sentences.

Vaillancourt Murphy noted that this period coincides with Jubilee 2025 and urged Biden to act according to his faith and constitutional authority. The Catholic Church opposes the death penalty as inconsistent with human life's sanctity and advocates for its worldwide abolition. Pope Francis reiterated this stance in his 2020 encyclical "Fratelli Tutti," stating that "the death penalty is inadmissible."

CMN is organizing a petition at catholicsmobilizing.org asking Biden to commute remaining death sentences “in the spirit of mercy.” Vaillancourt Murphy warned that approaches could change under new leadership, noting Trump's history with federal executions during his previous term.

Despite potential changes in leadership, Vaillancourt Murphy assured that CMN’s work will continue regardless of who occupies the White House. She cited church teachings against the death penalty as an attack on personal dignity and vowed ongoing advocacy until its abolition.

“We know the death penalty does not deter crime or make communities safer,” she said. “Like state systems, the federal death penalty system is broken.”

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