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STATEMENT ON
FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE APPLAUDS HIGH COURT'S
OVERTHROW OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 ON DEATH PENALTY
September 7, 2000
We welcome this
courageous decision issued today by the Florida Supreme Court in the case
of Armstrong, et al., Vs. Harris, in which the Court found that the
1998 ballot summary before voters was inaccurate and that the Amendment
must be stricken. This ruling, which cancels the initiative put on the
ballot by the Florida Legislature, well illustrates the protection offered
the citizenry through the separation of powers doctrine.
Because of its misleading Title (Preserving the Death Penalty) and
inaccurate ballot summary, it was not possible for voters to know the full
effect of Amendment 2. In casting a vote on this measure, the voters had
no recourse but to conclude that the death penalty in Florida was in
jeopardy; clearly it was not. Worse perhaps, were the amendment’s proposed
changes to the State Constitution not reflected in the ballot summary that
would have changed Florida’s existing prohibition on "cruel or
unusual punishment" to "cruel and unusual." This provision would
have applied not only to the death penalty but across the criminal code.
Those voting on Amendment 2 were not apprised of this proposed change
which would have resulted in chaos and confusion in our judicial system.
Regardless of how one may feel about the death penalty, a vote to change
the Constitution must be made in the full light of day.
We applaud the action by the Court in rendering this decision today.
Archbishop John C.
Favalora
Archdiocese
of Miami
Bishop John J. Snyder
Diocese of
St. Augustine
Bishop John J. Nevins
Diocese of Venice
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Bishop Robert N. Lynch
Diocese of St. Petersburg
Bishop Norbert M. Dorsey, CP
Diocese of Orlando
Bishop Anthony J. O'Connell
Diocese of Palm Beach
Bishop Agústin A. Román
Archdiocese of Miami
Bishop Gilberto Fernandez
Archdiocese of Miami
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Archdiocese of Miami
