death penalty
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.
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.
N.C. Muslims pleased with death penalty option but want focus on hate crimes probe
By Yonat Shimron — March 4, 2015
DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) More than the death penalty, the Muslim community wants a deeper investigation into the allegation of religious bias and the possibility of federal hate crimes.
Georgia postpones execution of woman who gained the support of theologians
By Reuters — March 3, 2015
ATLANTA (Reuters) Kelly Gissendaner's lawyers said the death row inmate has "accepted responsibility" for her actions and has "shown a commitment to seeking redemption through spiritual growth and serving others."
Executions are down and abolition may not be far behind (COMMENTARY)
By Shane Claiborne — February 4, 2015
(RNS) The death penalty is in critical condition. Might 2015 be a year of abolition?
Boston bombing jury excludes some Catholics
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — January 26, 2015
BOSTON (RNS) Potential jurors in bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial must be able to impose the death penalty. That standard eliminates most Catholics who heed their church's catechism.
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.
Wheaton College tackles the death penalty with Jesus in mind (COMMENTARY)
By Shane Claiborne — November 5, 2014
(RNS) This forum is encouraging because it points beyond itself -- to an evangelicalism that looks more like Jesus than the evangelicalism of the past few decades.
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.
Meriam Ibrahim leaves Italy for new life in New Hampshire
By Josephine McKenna — July 31, 2014
ROME (RNS) The 26-year-old and her family are expected to join Wani’s brother, Gabriel, and his wife and three children in Manchester, N.H., where they run the nonprofit organization South Sudan Community of New Hampshire.
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.
COMMENTARY: Conservatives may hold the key to ending the death penalty
By Kirsten Powers — June 27, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Anti-capital punishment activists say the time is ripe for promoting a culture of life.
