On May 3, 2017 Bishop Francis Malooly from the Diocese of Wilmington wrote a strongly worded letter urging the General Assembly of Delaware to reconsider a new proposition that would reinstate the death penalty. Here is a portion of the letter:
"On April 4, legislation which would effectively reinstate the death penalty in the State of Delaware was introduced. House Bill 125, the Extreme Crimes Prevention Act, would amend Delaware's death penalty statute to remedy a technical defect which currently renders it unconstitutional under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The true question at the heart of this issue is whether or not the death penalty is a just and necessary method of punishment. Pope Francis has called for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, saying 'It is impossible to imagine that states today cannot make use of another means than capital punishment to defend people's lives from an unjust aggressor.' Prison provides an effective alternative to the death penalty by removing the serious offender from society and allowing an opportunity for repentance, reformation, and reconciliation."
