capital punishment
Is Pope Francis changing church teachings before our eyes? (ANALYSIS)
By David Gibson — September 26, 2015
(RNS) On two issues, Francis himself may have provided some answers during this visit.
Protestants join Catholics in reconsidering the death penalty (COMMENTARY)
By Heather Beaudoin — May 22, 2015
(RNS) Evangelicals in Nebraska and elsewhere are joining Catholics in re-evaluating their support for capital punishment.
Nebraska lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty
By Doug Stanglin — May 21, 2015
The measure passed by a wide enough margin to override a threatened veto by Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Charles Manson’s chaplain speaks out amid national death row debate
By Jonathan Merritt — May 19, 2015
After spending years as a chaplain at San Quentin, America's most notorious prison, Reverend Earl Smith concludes, "death is final and the system can be flawed."
Boston Marathon victim’s parents: ‘Drop the death penalty’
By Reuters — April 17, 2015
BOSTON (Reuters) "We know that the government has its reasons for seeking the death penalty, but the continued pursuit of that punishment could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives," Bill and Denise Richard said.
Racial reconciliation demands Christians reconsider the death penalty (COMMENTARY)
By Antipas L. Harris — April 1, 2015
(RNS) At the same time that the Southern Baptist Convention apologizes for its complicity in racial oppression and urges racial reconciliation, the denomination remains a vocal proponent of capital punishment.
400+ Catholic and evangelical leaders want to kill the death penalty
By Heather Adams — March 31, 2015
(RNS) Christian leaders say Jesus' state-sponsored execution should prompt believers to oppose the death penalty.
In a groundbreaking vote, Latino evangelicals call for end to death penalty
By Jonathan Merritt — March 30, 2015
(RNS) Many religious groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, oppose the death penalty, but evangelical groups tend to take a more conservative stance.
Latino evangelicals call for end to death penalty. Will others follow?
By Jonathan Merritt — March 27, 2015
The National Latino Evangelical Coalition urged their 3,000 member congregations to end capital punishment. They are the first major evangelical association to take this position publicly, but support for the death penalty among Christians is waning.
Pope Francis takes a dim view of the death penalty, but not all Catholics are convinced
By David Gibson — March 23, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis is trying to tighten church teaching against the death penalty. Not all American Catholics, however, are convinced.
Utah poised to revive the firing squad in state executions
By Reuters — March 11, 2015
(Reuters) Utah used firing squads for decades before adopting lethal injections in 2004. A bill to revive it was introduced amid national concerns about the efficacy of lethal injections.
Executions drop to lowest level in two decades
By Kevin Johnson — December 19, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The 72 death sentences issued in 2014 represents the fewest in 40 years, according to a leading anti-death penalty advocacy group.
Supreme Court seems increasingly wary on death penalty
By Richard Wolf — December 3, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) On top of drug protocols, developmental disabilities and lawyers' mistakes, justices must decide if mental illness should be a reason to keep prisoners such as Scott Panetti alive. An appellate court gave him last-minute reprieve.
Pope Francis blasts supermax prisons as ‘torture’
By David Gibson — October 23, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis also took aim at practices that have been hotly debated in the U.S, such as the so-called "extraordinary rendition" of terror suspects to other countries.
COMMENTARY: The death penalty is never humane, even when carried out swiftly
By James Alan Fox — July 28, 2014
(RNS) I am concerned about relentless efforts to make the administration of capital punishment streamlined, straightforward, and simple. It should never be easy to kill a person.
