For Immediate Release
Monday, May 11, 2009
Catholic Bishops: Neither
Retribution Nor Deterrence Justify Death Penalty
Tallahassee
– Governor Crist, the
Catholic Bishops of Florida are dismayed
by your recent decision to execute John Richard Marek on
May 13, 2009. This death warrant was signed in spite of an
appeal by the Florida public defenders to declare a moratorium
on executions. While we oppose the use of the death penalty
because we believe in the sanctity of all human life, even those
who have done great harm, we appreciate the reasoning behind the
public defenders’ proposal, specifically the exorbitant costs of
execution in these financially difficult times.
We express our genuine sympathy
for the victim, Adella Marie Simmons, and her loved ones. We do
not believe the state-sanctioned
killing of John Marek will lessen their pain but instead will
force them to re-live the anguish experienced at the time the
crime was committed.
Neither retribution nor deterrence
can justify the death penalty. Society needs to be protected
from criminals, and we have that ability by sentencing offenders
to life in prison without possibility of parole.
Governor, many
states are reconsidering their use of the death penalty as the
solution to punish those guilty of heinous crimes. We implore
you to commute Mr. Marek’s sentence to life in prison without
possibility of parole and reconsider your decision to continue
executions in Florida.
Archbishop
John C. Favalora
Bishop Victor Galeone
Bishop Robert N. Lynch
Archdiocese of Miami Diocese of St.
Augustine Diocese of St.
Petersburg
Bishop
Thomas G. Wenski Bishop John H. Ricard,
SSJ Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito
Diocese of Orlando
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Diocese of Palm Beach
Bishop
Frank J. Dewane Auxiliary Bishop Felipe J.
Estevez Auxiliary Bishop John G. Noonan
Diocese of Venice Archdiocese
of Miami Archdiocese of
Miami
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