News - News Releases

“Positive medical advances and generous acts of charity remain signs of hope. Yet, thousands of unborn children still lose their lives each month, and countless mothers, fathers, and families continue to be wounded by the tragedy of abortion,” said the bishops of Florida in their statement commemorating the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, annually observed by the U.S. Catholic Church on January 22. The bishops note that despite the decline in reported abortions as a result of Florida’s Heartbeat Protection Act, there are heightened concerns over illicit abortions in Florida, and much work remains to protect unborn life.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay two executions scheduled to take place this month. Mark Geralds is scheduled to be executed on December 9, 2025, for the 1989 murder of Tressa Lynn Pettibone. Frank Walls is scheduled for execution on December 18, 2025, for the murder of Ann Peterson in 1987.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay two executions scheduled just a week apart. Bryan Jennings is scheduled to be executed on November 13, 2025, for the 1979 murder of Rebecca Kunash. Richard Randolph is scheduled for execution on November 20, 2025, for the murder of Minnie Ruth McCollum in 1988.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Norman Grim scheduled for October 28, 2025, and commute his sentence to life without parole.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Samuel Smithers scheduled for October 14, 2025, and commute his sentences to life imprisonment without parole. Smithers was sentenced to death for the murders of Cristy Cowan and Denise Roach in 1996.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has appealed to Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the Sept. 30 scheduled execution of Victor Jones and commute his sentences to life imprisonment without parole. A survivor of abuse at the Okeechobee School, Jones is among the former students whom the Florida Legislature formally recognized and compensated through the Dozier and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the Sept. 17 scheduled execution of David Pittman and commute his sentences to life imprisonment without parole.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the Aug. 28 scheduled execution of Curtis Windom and commute his sentences to life imprisonment without parole. Windom was sentenced to death for the 1992 murders of Johnnie Lee, Valerie Davis and Mary Lubin.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the Aug. 19 scheduled execution of Kayle Barrington Bates and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Bates was sentenced to death for the 1982 murder of Janet Renee White. He was also convicted of kidnapping, attempted sexual battery and armed robbery.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the July 31 scheduled execution of Edward Zakrzewski and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested that Gov. Ron DeSantis stay the July 15 scheduled execution of Michael Bell and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole.

The FCCB has requested Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Thomas Gudinas and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Gudinas is scheduled to be executed on June 24 for the 1994 murder of Michelle McGrath in Orlando.

Florida’s Catholic Bishops have interceded to ask Governor Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Anthony Wainwright and commute his sentence to life without parole. Wainwright is scheduled to be executed on June 10 for the 1994 murder of Carmen Gayheart in Hamilton County, FL.

The College of Cardinals has elected the 267th successor of St. Peter the Apostle. Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV, was elected May 8, 2025. The following is a statement from Michael Sheedy, executive director of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Florida’s Catholic bishops have appealed to Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Glen Rogers and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Rogers is scheduled to be executed on May 15 for the 1995 murder of Tina Marie Cribbs in Florida. He also received a sentence of death for the murder of Sandra Gallagher in California and is suspected of committing several other murders across the country.

Florida’s Catholic bishops have asked Governor Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Jeffrey Hutchinson and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Hutchinson is scheduled to be executed on May 1. He was convicted of the 1998 murders of Renee Flaherty and her three children, Geoffrey, Amanda, and Logan Flaherty. A sentence of death was imposed for the murder of each child. A life sentence was imposed for the murder of Ms. Flaherty.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops joins with many others around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis and reflecting on his life and ministry.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has pleaded with Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Michael Tanzi and commute his sentence to life without parole. Tanzi is scheduled to be executed on April 8 for the murder of Janet Acosta in 2000.

The Catholic bishops of Florida honored four awardees at the annual Catholic Days at the Capitol breakfast on Wednesday. This year’s award recipients were core partners working alongside the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops to defeat Amendment 4 in November 2024, which would have rolled back legal protections for the unborn in Florida.

Edward James is scheduled to be executed on March 20 for the 1993 murders of Betty Dick and her eight-year-old granddaughter, Toni Neuner. The FCCB recognizes the terrible pain and loss imposed by the actions of Mr. James. "We mourn the tragic deaths of Mrs. Dick and Toni and the suffering of their family members, and we pray for their comfort," wrote Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, in a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis.