• Most Rev. Felipe J. Estévez: Florida Bishops Against the Death Penalty
    Most Rev. Felipe J. Estévez: Florida Bishops Against the Death Penalty
    August 19, 2019
    On behalf of my brother bishops of the Province of Miami, I am the moderator for respect life and have the privilege of pastoral responsibility for inmates awaiting execution and those relatives of victims.  I bring this perspective to you today, with a focus on our twofold interest: 1) pastoral care and 2) public or political discourse.
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  • Florida Execution Scheduled; Federal Government Resumes Capital Punishment
    Florida Execution Scheduled; Federal Government Resumes Capital Punishment
    August 12, 2019
    Gary Ray Bowles is scheduled to be executed on August 22 at Florida State Prison in Starke. Bowles, who was sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of Walter Hinton in Duval County, is also serving life sentences for the murders of John Roberts in Volusia County and Albert Morris in Nassau County.
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  • Governor Signs Death Warrant; U.S. Bishops Approved Revised Passage on Death Penalty
    Governor Signs Death Warrant; U.S. Bishops Approved Revised Passage on Death Penalty
    June 25, 2019
    Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Gary Ray Bowles, who was sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of Walter Hinton in Duval County. Bowles, 57, is also serving life sentences for the murders of John Roberts in Volusia County and Albert Morris in Nassau County. 
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  • Catholic bishops urge Governor DeSantis to spare the life of Bobby Joe Long
    May 20, 2019
    TALLAHASSEE, FL – Robert Joseph “Bobby Joe” Long is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m. for the 1984 murder of Michelle Sims. Long additionally pled guilty to, and received life sentences for, seven other murders.
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  • Governor DeSantis Signs First Death Warrant
    April 29, 2019
    On Tuesday, April 23, Governor Ron DeSantis signed his first death warrant since assuming office in January 2019. The execution of Robert Joseph Long is scheduled for May 23 at 6:00 pm EDT. Long was sentenced to death for the 1984 murder of Michelle Simms in Hillsborough County.
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  • Catholic bishops reiterate plea for Governor Scott to spare the life of Jose Antonio Jimenez
    December 10, 2018
    TALLAHASSEE, FL – Jose Antonio Jimenez is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1992 murder of Phyllis Minas. Governor Scott initially signed Jimenez’ death warrant in July and scheduled his execution for August 14. However, the Florida Supreme Court issued a stay of execution to further review the case. The Supreme Court lifted the stay on October 4.
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  • Cities for Life Events Held November 30, 2018
    Cities for Life Events Held November 30, 2018
    November 19, 2018
    On November 30, events will be held at various locations in Florida dioceses to recognize International Day of Cities for Life / Cities Against the Death Penalty. This annual event has been spearheaded by the lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio since 2002. Over 2,000 cities across the globe have declared themselves "Cities for Life" and are committed to the abolition of the death penalty and a more civil form of justice. You are invited to attend an event in your area.
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  • Catholic bishops urge Governor Scott to spare the life of Jose Antonio Jimenez
    August 10, 2018
    TALLAHASSEE, FL – Jose Antonio Jimenez is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1992 murder of Phyllis Minas. In an August 9 letter to Governor Rick Scott on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, appealed to the governor to commute Jimenez' death sentence to a life sentence without parole.
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  • Two Pro-life Bills See Action in Respective Chambers
    March 2, 2018
    Dismemberment Abortion On Thursday, March 1, HB 1429 (Grall) passed the House (72-42). This FCCB-supported measure would prohibit physicians from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion, a procedure conducted in the second-trimester that removes the body parts of an unborn child while the child is still alive. The companion bill in the Senate, SB 1890 (Mayfield), has not been heard in its committees of reference.
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  • Eric Scott Branch Executed February 22
    February 23, 2018
    Eric Scott Branch was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, February 22 after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison. Mr. Branch was convicted of the 1993 murder of Susan Morris, a University of West Florida student. Prior to the execution, Catholic faithful and members of the community gathered to pray for the victim and aggressor, and their families, for an end to the use of the death penalty, and for Governor Scott as he confronted the decision to proceed with the execution. We thank all of our FLCAN members who sent a message to the governor urging him to commute Mr. Branch's sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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  • Catholic bishops urge Governor Scott to spare the life of Eric Branch
    February 19, 2018
    TALLAHASSEE, FL – Eric Branch is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1993 murder of Susan Morris. In a February 15 letter on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, appealed to Governor Scott to commute Branch's death sentence to a life sentence without parole. "It is our concern that the death penalty contributes to a growing disrespect for the sacredness of all human life," said Sheedy. "It feeds on an underlying sense of vengeance in our culture and adds to a callousness or coarseness towards one another."
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  • Prayer Vigils Scheduled in Anticipation of February 22 Execution
    February 19, 2018
    Eric Scott Branch is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on Thursday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m. for the 1993 murder of Susan Morris. Prior to the execution, Catholic faithful and members of the community will gather to pray for the victim and aggressor, and their families, for an end to the use of the death penalty, and for Governor Scott as he confronts the decision to proceed with the execution.
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  • Bill Expanding Retroactivity in Death Penalty Cases Advances in Senate
    February 9, 2018
    An FCCB-supported proposal that provides that the partial retroactivity of a new unanimous jury requirement will result in a miscarriage of justice was approved by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (3-2) on Tuesday, February 6.
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  • Bishop Estévez Highlights End-of-Year Report from the Death Penalty Information Center
    December 27, 2017
    In a letter to the editor, Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of St. Augustine wrote the following: On Thursday, December 14th, the Death Penalty Information Center released their annual end of year report analyzing the trends and patterns we’ve seen with the death penalty in 2017. According to the report, death sentences and executions were the second lowest in a quarter century. Additionally, public support for the death penalty fell to its lowest level in 45 years.
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  • Cities for Life Events Promote Opposition to Death Penalty
    Cities for Life Events Promote Opposition to Death Penalty
    December 13, 2017
    On November 30, events to recognize International Day of Cities for Life / Cities Against the Death Penalty were held at various locations in our Florida dioceses. This annual, worldwide effort has been spearheaded by the lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio since 2002. Over 2,000 cities across the globe have declared themselves "Cities for Life" and are committed to the abolition of the death penalty and a more civil form of justice.
    Read More
  • Cities for Life Events Held November 30, 2017
    Cities for Life Events Held November 30, 2017
    November 27, 2017
    On November 30, events will be held at various locations in our Florida dioceses to recognize International Day of Cities for Life / Cities Against the Death Penalty. This annual event has been spearheaded by the lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio since 2002. Over 2,000 cities across the globe have declared themselves "Cities for Life" and are committed to the abolition of the death penalty and a more civil form of justice.
    Read More
  • Catholic Bishops of Florida urge Governor Scott to spare the life of Patrick Hannon
    November 6, 2017
    TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops urges Governor Rick Scott to spare the life of Patrick Hannon. Hannon is scheduled to be executed Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1991 murders of Brandon Snider and Robert Carter. In a November 6 letter on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, appealed to Governor Scott to commute Hannon’s death sentence to a life sentence without parole.
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  • Execution Scheduled for November 8; Lawmakers Receive Death Penalty Update
    October 10, 2017
    Thank you to all FLCAN members who responded to our action alert to contact Governor Scott, requesting that Michael Lambrix's execution be stayed and his sentence be commuted to life without parole. Sadly, the execution was carried out on October 5. The next day, a death warrant was signed scheduling yet another execution. Patrick Hannon is scheduled for execution on November 8.
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  • Bishops of Florida urge Governor Scott to spare life of Michael Lambrix
    September 29, 2017
    TALLAHASSEE, FL – After over three decades on death row, Michael Lambrix is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. Lambrix received two death sentences for the 1983 murders of Clarence Moore and Aleisha Bryant. In a September 28 letter on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, appeals to Governor Rick Scott to commute Mr. Lambrix’s death sentence to a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
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  • Death Warrant Signed by Governor; Execution Set to Take Place October 5
    September 7, 2017
    Governor Rick Scott has scheduled an October 5 execution for Cary Michael Lambrix, a Death Row inmate convicted of killing Aleisha Bryant and Clarence Moore in 1983. Scott ordered Lambrix to be put to death last year, but the Florida Supreme Court put the execution on hold after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the state's death-penalty sentencing system. The death warrant for Lambrix, issued Friday, September 1, came little more than a week after Mark Asay was executed by lethal injection in the state's first execution in 19 months. 
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