Bishop Estévez Releases Pastoral Letter on the Death Penalty

This month, Bishop Felipe Estévez of St. Augustine released a pastoral letter to the faithful of his diocese. The 20-page document is entitled, Standing Up for the Dignity of all Human Life: A Pastoral Letter on Capital Punishment in Florida, and it addresses the teachings of the Church about the intrinsic value and God-given dignity of every human life from conception until natural death.

“We believe that God – and only God – is the author of every human being, and only God should determine the end of that life,” writes Bishop Estévez. He draws on the wisdom and experience of St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and his predecessor the late Bishop John J. Snyder, all of whom challenged the world to stand up against the death penalty.

Bishop Estévez, who serves as FCCB respect life moderator, highlights the effort of the Florida bishops, who have tirelessly worked towards a culture of life, and Dale Recinella, who has served for more than 20 years ministering to Florida's death row inmates.

Bishop Estévez also draws attention to the dignity of the victims of the accused and their families, saying, “A vital dimension of our prayer and our advocacy remembers the victims…they must never be forgotten.”

A Spanish version of the pastoral letter is available here.