Capital punishment Archives

Religion and the death penalty collide at the Supreme Court

Feb 13, 2021

The Supreme Court is sending a message to states that want to continue to carry out the death penalty: Inmates must be allowed to have a spiritual adviser by their side as they are executed.

By Jessica Gresko

Pastor, man set to die, faith at core of discrimination suit

Feb 13, 2021

A pastor, a condemned prisoner and their faith are at the center of a religious discrimination claim that triggered a late injunction from a federal appeals court on Wednesday.

By Melissa Brown, Montgomery Advertiser

Alabama cancels execution after court requires pastor

Feb 12, 2021

An Alabama inmate on Thursday won a reprieve from a scheduled lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court said the state must allow his personal pastor in the death chamber.

By Kim Chandler

Virginia General Assembly votes to ban death penalty; governor supports move

Feb 6, 2021

Both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate have now passed bills that would abolish the death penalty in the state.

By Zoey Maraist

Prayer vigils in Virginia call for end to death penalty

Jan 26, 2021

At some of the prayer vigils for an end of the death penalty in Virginia Jan. 22 — held in locations across the state, including sites where lynchings took place — the names of those killed were read aloud.

By Carol Zimmermann

Sotomayor: 13 executed under Trump administration ‘deserved more’ from court

Jan 20, 2021

Although the Supreme Court cleared the way for the execution of Dustin Higgs Jan. 15, two justices made their objections known loud and clear in dissents that called into question the speed of these decisions and even the constitutionality of capital punishment.

By Carol Zimmermann

Catholic leader sees growing support for ending death penalty in Virginia

Jan 17, 2021

The executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s bishops, said he was pleased bipartisan support is growing for ending Virginia’s death penalty.

By Catholic News Service