Archbishop Wenski: End Death Penalty in Florida - Miami

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski urged Catholics to reconsider capital punishment, advocating for a consistent ethic of life that extends to those convicted of murder. During a Sept. 17 webinar hosted by the Catholic Mobilizing Network, Wenski stated, "No human being is a problem." He emphasized that individuals who have committed horrific crimes remain children of God and deserve to have their dignity honored.

The archbishop's remarks coincide with Florida's Catholic bishops intensifying their opposition to the state's use of the death penalty. In a July 27 pastoral letter, the bishops argued that modern incarceration can effectively protect society while respecting an offender's inherent dignity. They reiterated this stance on Sept. 22, appealing to Gov. Ron DeSantis to halt the scheduled Sept. 29 execution of Curtis Beasley and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole.

Demetrius Minor, executive director of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty and a Pentecostal minister, shared his personal journey toward opposing capital punishment. Having experienced the murder of a cousin, Minor found himself conflicted between his pro-life convictions and anger. He recounted his pastor advising him that it is difficult to be both pro-life and pro-death, prompting introspection. "If I am going to be pro-life, I need to be holistically pro-life in its totality," Minor stated. He believes the death penalty does not bring closure but rather "recycles the pain and anguish and grief to another family."

Emmjolee Mendoza Waters, director of the Death Penalty Abolition Program at Catholic Mobilizing Network, highlighted Florida's role in executions, noting the state had carried out 15 by Sept. 17, accounting for more than half of the national total for the year. Archbishop Wenski also pointed out that some victims' families oppose capital punishment, recognizing an execution will not bring back their loved ones. He added that carrying out executions can also take a toll on state employees involved in the process.