death penalty
Mennonite investigator who won’t testify goes back to jail
By Yonat Shimron — March 1, 2018
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Greta Lindecrantz was jailed Monday after she repeatedly refused to answer questions about her work on the defense team of Robert Ray, one of three men on Colorado's death row.
Pope lays down challenge to US Catholics on the death penalty
By Christopher Lamb — October 13, 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In calling capital punishment 'inadmissible,' Pope Francis is reshaping what it means for Catholics to be 'pro-life,' stressing that it means protecting life from womb to natural death.
Arkansas executions a prime example of how death penalty targets the poor
By Karen Clifton — May 8, 2017
(RNS) You’d be hard-pressed to find a rich person who received the death penalty.
Bible Belt state with nation’s highest execution rate considers death penalty flaws
By Bobby Ross Jr. — May 3, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) Last week, the Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission recommended that the moratorium on the death penalty be extended.
Florida prosecutor has strong moral basis for renouncing death penalty (COMMENTARY)
By Brian D. McLaren — April 7, 2017
(RNS) Aramis Ayala is leading Florida out of a legal and ethical mess and into a better future.
Jury condemns Dylann Roof to death
By RNS staff — January 10, 2017
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) He told jurors he still felt the massacre was something he had to do and did not ask that his life be spared.
The down-ballot issues people of faith were watching
By Kimberly Winston — November 4, 2016
(RNS) Marijuana, gun control, the death penalty and the minimum wage are some of the issues being highlighted by religious leaders.
The death penalty killed Jesus. Is it killing us, too?
By Jonathan Merritt — September 2, 2016
Christianity purports to follow a first-century rabbi who was convicted, jailed, and sentenced to die at the hands of the state beside two other convicted felons. Here's why it matters.
Stop the execution of Jeff Wood, in the name of Jesus
By Shane Claiborne — August 18, 2016
(RNS) When it comes to executions in America, we are not killing the worst of the worst; we are killing the poorest of the poor.
Charleston church shooter seeks trial by court instead of jury
By RNS staff — June 10, 2016
(Reuters) The white man accused of killing nine black parishioners in a racially motivated attack at a church in South Carolina a year ago said he would like to waive his right to a jury trial, opting instead to be tried and sentenced by the court. The court filing on Thursday (June 9) said federal […]
Family members showed Dylann Roof mercy. Why can’t prosecutors?
By Shane Claiborne — May 26, 2016
(RNS) Can we, as a nation, do better than killing those who kill in order to show that killing is wrong?
Why the pope is right and Russell Moore is wrong about the death penalty (COMMENTARY)
By Jennifer Butler — March 1, 2016
(RNS) Both the Hebrew prophets and Jesus consistently challenge the ancient “eye for an eye” legal system to create room for mercy, humility, forgiveness and ultimately redemption.
Pope Francis: Abolish the death penalty worldwide
By Reuters — February 22, 2016
"The commandment "You shall not kill," has absolute value and applies to both the innocent and the guilty," he said Sunday.
Georgia executes oldest death row inmate for 1979 murder
By Reuters — February 3, 2016
Brandon Astor Jones died by lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request for a stay of execution.
Still fighting the death penalty, Sister Prejean gets pope’s blessing
By Rosie Scammell — January 21, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Prejean said Francis’ influence and support are never far away. “The pope’s like a little lighthouse, and he keeps sending out that beam -- this is what it’s about.”
