A Statement from the Louisiana Catholic Bishops on Pending Executions

The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops have consistently defended life from conception to natural death and we remain deeply aware of the pain and grief that victims and families suffer, especially those who have lost a loved one through the crime of murder or crimes of violence.
As we continue to pray for the victims and their families, we pray that the State will not issue in a culture of death by facilitating death warrants and consider that mercy can be the highest form of justice. No method of execution is acceptable including nitrogen hypoxia (asphyxiation).

As a result of the recent efforts to restart the protocols for executions, the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement:

“We are saddened by the recent notice to restart the process for the issuance of death warrants to execute human beings in Louisiana. This only contributes to the culture of death. We promote a culture of life, not death, in this great State we love. As bishops, we will continue to promote life from conception to natural death and work to end the execution of another human being”.

Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans
Most Rev. Michael G. Duca, Diocese of Baton Rouge
Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotels, Diocese of Lafayette
Most Rev.  Francis I. Malone, Diocese of Shreveport
Most Rev. Robert W. Marshall, Diocese of Alexandria
Most Rev. Glen John Provost, Diocese of Lake Charles
Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, Diocesan Administrator Houma-Thibodaux

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More information and an Action Alert to write letters to the Governor is on our website at www.laccb.org under TAKE ACTION and Click On Oppose Death Warrants and Promote a Culture of Life to complete brief registration and to send letter that you can personalize. 
For further information, contact Tom Costanza at [email protected] or 504-874-7829.