The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the execution of Michael Zack and commute his sentence to life without parole. Zack is scheduled to be executed on October 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
On September 8, 2023, the Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case brought by several pro-abortion groups challenging the constitutionality of Florida's 15-week abortion ban. A restriction on abortions after 15-weeks gestation was passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor DeSantis in April 2022. Join us in prayer from August 31 - September 8.
An extremely grave initiative is underway in Florida that seeks to erase pro-life protections by banning government regulation of abortion in our state constitution. A network of abortion activists are working to gather petition signatures to have a pro-abortion constitutional amendment, titled Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion, placed on the statewide ballot in the November 2024 election. In order to do so, they need nearly 900,000 signatures and are working right now in communities across Florida to collect them.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the execution of James Barnes and commute his sentence to life without parole. Barnes is scheduled to be executed on August 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. He was sentenced to death for the 1988 murder of Patricia “Patsy” Miller in Brevard County, Florida. He is also serving a life sentence for the 1997 murder of his wife, Linda Barnes.
James Barnes is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for the murder of Patricia “Patsy” Miller. Catholic faithful and members of the community plan to gather at the following times and locations to pray for Mr. Barnes, his victims and their families, for our society which continues to impose violence in return for violence, and for an end to the use of the death penalty.
Having recently celebrated the Eucharistic Pilgrimage: The Gift of Sacred Mystery at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, Bishop Noonan invited his brother bishops across the state to share their wisdom for the people about the Eucharist, the Gift of Sacred Mystery. The Florida bishops had gathered at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Plenary Assembly at the Omni Championsgate June 14-16.
Duane Owen is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for the murders of Karen Slattery and Georgianna Worden. Catholic faithful and members of the community plan to gather at the following times and locations to pray for Mr. Owen, his victims and their families, for our society which continues to impose violence in return for violence, and for an end to the use of the death penalty.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the execution of Duane Owen and commute his sentence to life without parole. Owen is scheduled to be executed on June 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. He was sentenced to death for the 1984 murders of Karen Slattery and Georgianna Worden in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The 2023 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature came to a close (sine die) at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5. The motion to adjourn sine die, Latin for 'without day,' is the last action of a session of the Florida legislature. Our final summary of the legislative session provides the status of budget priorities and concerns and bills actively engaged by the FCCB.
The Florida House voted to pass HB 1267 (Fernandez-Barquin) by a 96-18 vote. The bill will be sent to the Senate for final passage. Earlier in the week, Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified in opposition to the Senate companion, SB 580 (Gruters).
SB 1580 (Trumbull) was approved by the full Senate on Friday by a 28-11 vote. "Nothing in this bill allows a medical professional to decline to serve a patient because of who they are," said bill sponsor Senator Jay Trumbull in his closing statement. "Rather, it specifically focuses on what procedure the doctor or nurse is asked to perform and protects them from performing anything that violates their religious, moral or ethical beliefs."
On Friday, the Senate took up SB 1718 (Ingoglia) and passed the bill by a 27-10 vote. Earlier in the week, FCCB's Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified in opposition to SB 1718 before the Fiscal Policy Committee, which amended and advanced the bill on a 14-6 vote.
Darryl Barwick is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. for the murder of Rebecca Wendt. Catholic faithful and members of the community plan to gather at the following times and locations to pray for Mr. Barwick, his victim and her family, for our society which continues to impose violence in return for violence, and for an end to the use of the death penalty.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the execution of Darryl Barwick and commute his sentence to life without parole. Barwick is scheduled to be executed on May 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1986 murder of Rebecca Wendt in Panama City, Florida.
The Florida House voted on SB 254 on Wednesday, legislation that would prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors, require written consent to be obtained before such procedures could be performed on adults and require that a physician's license be revoked if he or she violates any sections of the bill.
On Wednesday, legislation that would prohibit children from being admitted to an obscene adult performance received final passage. The House approved SB 1438 (Yarborough) by a 82-32 vote. The bill contains provisions to fine, suspend, or revoke the license of any public lodging or public food service establishment that knowingly admits a child to an adult live performance.
SB 1580 (Trumbull) was approved by the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday by a 14-5 vote and is now available to be taken up by the full Senate. FCCB's Mike Barrett was present at the committee meeting and indicated FCCB's support for the bill. "We must remember that we live in a diverse society, and protecting diverse viewpoints even in the medical process protects access to care for patients," said bill sponsor Senator Trumbull.
Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified in opposition to HB 1267 (Fernandez-Barquin) before the House Commerce Committee. HB 1267 and SB 580 (Gruters) would create an increase of interest rates between 6% and 18% on what are already high-cost installment loans for consumers who are often in acute financial distress.
Death Penalty Eligibility for Sexual Battery of a Minor Under 12: On Tuesday, HB 1297 received final passage in the Senate by a 34-5 vote. The FCCB opposes legislation that makes it easier to impose a death sentence, a process that should be as transparent and secure as possible.
Today, the Florida legislature passed a bill to replace current law that requires juries in capital cases to be unanimous when recommending a death sentence. Michael Sheedy, executive director for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) issued the following statement: “It is stunning that the Florida legislature would weaken a common-sense law passed just six years ago that required unanimous agreement by a jury in order to sentence someone to death.