On Monday, May 20, 2019, as a sign of solidarity and commitment to ending the death penalty and upholding the sanctity of all human life, the Florida Catholic Conference of Bishops sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to halt the execution of Robert Long, scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2019.
Read an excerpt of the letter below:
"Even if there were no mitigating circumstances, the Conference would still implore you to choose life over death for Mr. Long. Although he caused much harm, society has been safe from his aggressive acts in the decades of his incarceration. Without taking his life, society can be protected while he endures the alternative sentence of life without the possibility of parole. It is a severe punishment.
We have long advocated for an end to the use of the death penalty. Pope Francis recently requested reformulation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) to reflect the inadmissibility of capital punishment.
The death penalty is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person and denies the possibility of redemption. Please promote a consistent pro-life ethic in our state. The cycle of violence – to which Mr. Long’s acts have contributed – must end. His execution would only perpetuate it."
