BISHOPS PLEA MERCY FOR THOMAS PROVENZANO
Tallahassee, FL (June 19, 2000) — The Bishops of Florida appeal to Governor Bush for clemency and a stay of the death sentence of Thomas H. Provenzano scheduled for execution at 6:00 p.m. on 20 June 2000. His crimes involved great evil and his victims and their families have been terribly wronged. We express our deep sympathy for the family members of William "Arnie" Wilkerson and Harry Dalton whose lives were taken, and for Mark Parker who remains paralyzed by this crime.
It is our sincere prayer that the wounds of all those who are grieving because of this crime may find healing. But we remain convinced that the execution of Thomas Provenzano will neither restore life nor heal pain. It may satisfy an understandable desire for vengeance, but retribution cannot justify taking a human life. The sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person remain, even from one who violated the rights of others by taking their lives.
We renew our call for a moratorium on executions and join with Pope John Paul II in a re-commitment to end the death penalty. We are "unconditionally prolife," and we pray that we may all begin to better realize that increasing reliance on the death penalty diminishes society as a whole. We urge clemency for Thomas H. Provenzano.
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The Florida Catholic Conference is an agency of the Catholic Bishops, established in 1969. It speaks for the Church in matters of public policy, serves as liaison to government and the legislature, and coordinates communications and activities between the church and secular agencies. The Bishops of the seven dioceses of Florida constitute its Board of Directors.