STATEMENT ON A
PLEA FOR MERCY FOR ROBERT D. GLOCK II

January 9, 2001

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   The 1983 murder of Sharilyn Richie was a terrible crime and we express our sincere sympathy for her brutalization and loss of life.  Robert D. Glock is scheduled to die for this crime at 6:00 p.m. on January 11, 2001, after a brief stay by the Florida Supreme Court.  Once again, we ask Governor Bush to halt this execution.

   The added violence of this execution is harmful to our society.   Florida law provides for the alternative of life imprisonment without parole.   This legitimized killing by the state coarsens us all.   It is only when society cannot be protected in any other way that the death penalty is justified.  We diminish ourselves as a people by taking away a human life.  Every human life must be respected, even lives of those who fail to show that respect for others.

   Society needs to be protected from criminals, but we need not go to the extent of executing them.  The cycle of violence must end.  We must seek justice without vengeance.  "As I live, says the Lord God, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather that he may be converted and live ." (Cf. Ezekiel 33:11)

   We are a government of, for and by the people. Let those speak loudly who agree that these executions are not taking place in our names.  We appeal to Governor Bush for mercy in the case of Robert D. Glock, II.

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