Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The Biden administration has faced criticism from Catholic leaders and advocates for pursuing death penalty cases, despite the Church’s stance against capital punishment. The administration oversaw at least two high-profile death sentence cases, including the Boston Marathon bomber and the 2018 synagogue shooter.
In August 2023, Robert Bowers, the perpetrator of the antisemitic massacre that killed nearly a dozen people, was sentenced to death by a federal jury. Additionally, the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, also known as the Boston Marathon bomber, following a request from the Justice Department after Biden’s election in 2021.
The Catholic Church has long opposed the death penalty, with the Catechism of the Catholic Church describing it as “inadmissible” and an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” This reflects a shift in Catholic doctrine, with previous popes, including St. John Paul II, condemning the death penalty as “cruel and unnecessary” and advocating for a pro-life stance.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has spoken out in favor of life sentences for convicted murderers, even those who have committed heinous crimes, in line with Catholic teaching. The bishops’ opposition to the Trump administration’s decision to resume federal executions after a 17-year moratorium underscores the Church’s stance against capital punishment.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national advocacy organization against the death penalty, has criticized the Biden administration for pursuing death penalty cases while federal executions are under moratorium. The organization argues that this sends a “mixed message” and goes against the efforts to break the cycle of violence through executions.
The tension between the Biden administration’s pursuit of death penalty cases and the Catholic Church’s stance against capital punishment highlights the ongoing debate over the ethical implications of such sentences. It also underscores the diverging views on justice and mercy within the criminal justice system.