Death Penalty

"Ending the death penalty would be one important step away from a culture of death and toward building a culture of life.”

A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005

Learn More About
The Catholic Campaign to
End the Use of the Death Penalty

Visit the USCCB web site now for information about the issue and the campaign!

The Vatican, The Holy Father and the Death Penalty

Over the years, Pope John Paul II has been outspoken in his concerns about the use of the death penalty. Here are some statements by the Holy Father as well as other Vatican documents and statements.
• Pope John Paul II
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church
• The Gospel of Life
• The Compendium of Catholic Social Teaching

Statements by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death English l Spanish
A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty
2000 Criminal Justice Statement
Cardinal Bernadin’s Testimony on the Death Penalty as Chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro Life Activities
First Comprehensive Statement by the U.S. Bishops Calling for an End to the Use of the Death Penalty
First USCCB Statement on the Death Penalty by Archbishop Bernardin


From the Catholic Conference of Ohio:

Ohio Death Penalty Facts and Church Teachings
History of the Death Penalty in Ohio with pictures. Updated 2/24/2009
History of the Death Penalty in Ohio without pictures. Updated 2/24/2009
Ohio Executions, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections

The Diocesan Social Action through the 5 Catholic Commissions working within the eight counties of the Diocese of Cleveland seeks to shape a more caring society and a more peaceful world through justice education, advocacy, community development and organizing. Our work is based on the call of the Gospel to work for the respect and dignity of all human life, the elimination of poverty, to speak out against injustice, and to promote the common good.