Death Penalty

In 2018, Pope Francis changed the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the death penalty and said it never acceptable and, as did Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, called for its abolition in all cases. Read his letter here.
Read the revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which now states  "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person."
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In March 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The state's death chamber is located in the Archdiocese of San Francisco at San Quentin Prison. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone issued a statement on behalf of the California bishops praising Newsom's action, stating "With regard to the practice of capital punishment itself, it has been apparent for many years that such recourse to the ultimate punishment is not necessary in a modern society. Repeated studies have proven that it does not serve as a deterrent, that too many innocent people are condemned, and that sentencing is too often influenced by racial, economic and other discriminatory factors."
Read Archbishop Cordileone's entire statement here.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 
The Catholic Mobilizing Network: Ending the Death Penalty, Promoting Restorative Justice
 

Archdiocese of San Francisco
Office of Human Life & Dignity
Contact the Restorative Justice Ministry
One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco CA 94109
Office: (415) 614-5572 + Fax: (415) 614-5572