The Arizona Catholic Conference announced on May 14 that it opposes the scheduled execution of Leroy McGill, set for May 20. The statement was issued by the bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference.
The bishops said their opposition to the death penalty is based on church teaching and concerns about justice and human dignity. They called for alternatives such as life imprisonment, which they say protects society without resorting to capital punishment.
“We deeply regret that the State of Arizona has set May 20 as the date for Leroy McGill’s execution,” the bishops said in their statement. “As bishops, our principal opposition to the death penalty is rooted in Catholic Church teaching that every person has been created in God’s image and likeness. For this reason, we are compelled to defend the sacred dignity of all human life.” The statement also emphasized support for victims’ families: “Our concern is for all who are victims of such heinous crimes, and we support providing compassionate and professional assistance to victims’ families and loved ones. We pray fervently for their healing and that the pain of their loss may never be forgotten!”
The bishops expressed additional concerns about fairness in applying capital punishment. They pointed out that factors such as geography, race, and economic status can influence who receives a death sentence. “In particular, across our nation—including Arizona—the use of capital punishment is troubling because it is often influenced by factors like geography and imposed disproportionately on people of color or those with limited economic resources,” they said.
They also highlighted risks associated with wrongful convictions: “At least two hundred people in the United States have been unjustly convicted and sentenced to death only to later be exonerated. In Arizona alone, eleven people have been released from death row after evidence proved their innocence.” The statement added concerns about denying prisoners a chance at redemption before execution.
The bishops concluded by urging prayer and advocacy against capital punishment: “Therefore, as Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference, we encourage all people of goodwill to join us in prayer and advocacy for an end to the death penalty—and for Leroy McGill’s soul—as his scheduled execution date approaches.”
