Catholic leaders urge voters to back death penalty repeal

Sep 30, 2016

|Associated Press

Catholic leaders urge voters to back death penalty repeal — State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha speaks during second-round debate, Friday, May 15, 2015, at the Legislature in Lincoln, Neb., on a bill to abolish the death penalty. (Credit: AP.)

LINCOLN, Neb. — Catholic leaders are launching a campaign that will urge voters to retain Nebraska’s repeal of the death penalty in the November general election.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference announced a series of steps Thursday that church leaders will take to speak to the state’s 375,000 Catholics.

The church has distributed materials to parishes throughout the state, including videos filmed by bishops that outline the church’s teachings on capital punishment.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference will also advocate through radio and video spots and events planned in Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island. Priests throughout the state are expected to speak about the issue from pulpit.

Catholic leaders say the death penalty in Nebraska isn’t necessary to protect society. Death penalty supporters say the punishment is appropriate in certain cases.