AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops is praising the U.S. Supreme Court for a decision it made this week surrounding a death row inmate in Texas.
The 21 active bishops in the state said in a statement released on Wednesday that they were relieved to hear the news of the March 23 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to grant John Ramirez’ request to have his pastor audibly pray and lay hands on him as the State of Texas executes him.
“Mercy must accompany justice in our response to violence. State-sanctioned executions are a merciless and violent response which makes our society increasingly merciless and violent, as well as unjust,” the Bishops said in a statement. “As we wrote in a pastoral statement in 2016, capital punishment reduces our hearts’ capacity for mercy and love.”
The Bishops contend that allowing a prisoner to seek mercy at the moment of death should be a minimal expectation of society.
“The ministerial presence of a chaplain underscores that religious freedom with the integrity of the conscience is a matter of human dignity not forfeited by the commission of grave crimes committed against life,” the statement continued.
Even with the decision, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops said the killing of John Ramirez will not provide healing to the family and friends of Pablo Castro, nor will it result in justice for John Ramirez. The Bishops believe Ramirez’ life should be spared.
Copyright 2022. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved.
