U.S. Bishops’ President on the Commutations of Federal Death Row Sentences December 23, 2024

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Commutations of Federal Death Row Sentences

WASHINGTON – “These commutations are a significant step in advancing the cause of human dignity and respect for human life from womb to tomb in our nation,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Upon hearing the news that President Biden has commuted the federal death sentences of 37 men to terms of imprisonment, Archbishop Broglio stated:

“My brother bishops and I unite in expressing our gratitude that President Biden has commuted the federal death sentences of 37 men. The bishops’ conference has long called for an end to the use of the death penalty. This action by the president is a significant step in advancing the cause of human dignity in our nation. As we continue to proclaim the Gospel in a broken world, this act of mercy is a step closer to building a culture of life. We encourage all lawmakers to continue to work towards the total abolition of the death penalty, and to redirect the energy and resources that currently go towards executions to provide compassionate and professional assistance to the families of victims.

“During this season of Advent when our Church prepares for the coming of our Lord, we pray for and encourage all elected leaders to similarly take bold actions to protect human life in all of its stages.”

For more, read the Bishops’ statement on Capital Punishment. “In 1974, out of a commitment to the value and dignity of human life, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, by a substantial majority, voted to declare its opposition to capital punishment. As a former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops pointed out in 1977, the issue of capital punishment involves both “profound legal and political questions” as well as “important moral and religious issues.” And so we find that this issue continues to provoke public controversy and to raise moral questions that trouble many. This is particularly true in the aftermath of widely publicized executions in Utah and Florida and as a result of public realization that there are now over 500 persons awaiting execution in various prisons in our country.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the hierarchy of bishops who jointly exercise pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our mission is to support the ministry of bishops with an emphasis on evangelization, by which the bishops exercise in a communal and collegial manner certain pastoral functions entrusted to them by the Lord Jesus of sanctifying, teaching, and governing(see Lumen gentium, no. 21).

Our purposes under civil law are: to unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States; to organize and conduct religious, charitable and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education; to care for immigrants; and generally to enter into and promote by education, publication and direction the objects of its being.

This mission calls the Conference to: 1) Act collaboratively and consistently on vital issues confronting the Church and society (see Christus Dominus, no. 38.1); 2)Foster communion with the Church in other nations, within the Church universal, under the leadership of its supreme pastor, the Roman Pontiff 3); Offer appropriate assistance to each bishop in fulfilling his particular ministry in the local Church (Cf. Apostolos suos, 1998.).

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