Mississippi’s Catholic Bishops – Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz of Jackson and Bishop Louis Kihneman, III of Biloxi Call for Justice and Mercy in Light of Execution of Richard Jordan.

As the State of Mississippi prepares to carry out the execution of Richard Jordan on Wednesday, June 25, we turn our hearts and prayers to the family of Edwina Marter, whose life was tragically taken in 1976. We acknowledge the profound pain and grief they have carried over the decades and we pray that God, the source of all consolation, continues to comfort and sustain them.

No one can fully grasp the suffering that results from such a terrible loss. The Church stands with the victims of violence and offers both compassion and a plea for justice grounded in our faith. At the same time, our Catholic tradition compels us to speak out in opposition to the use of the death penalty.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear: the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. (CCC 2267) As followers of Christ, we are called to uphold the sanctity of every human life – even the life of one who has committed a grave crime. This call is not rooted in sentimentality but in the Gospel which emphasizes mercy, forgiveness, and the inherent value of every individual.

We do not excuse or minimize the crime. We recognize the obligation of the state to ensure public safety and justice. However, we also affirm that our society possesses the means to protect its citizens without resorting to executions. The death penalty neither restores the victim’s life nor brings true healing to the families affected by violence. Instead, it perpetuates a culture of retribution and finality that leaves no room for redemption or grace.

As we have seen in the past – including the murder of Sisters Paula Merrill and Margaret Held, whose religious communities boldly opposed the execution of their killer – the path of mercy and justice is not only possible, but powerfully prophetic. Their witness echoes the Gospel message that no life is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.

We pray for Mr. Jordan, that in these final days he may be moved to repentance and receive the grace of God. We pray for the correctional staff charged with carrying out this execution, whose humanity is burdened by such a task. And we pray for our elected leaders that they may have the courage to enact policies that uphold the dignity of all life.

We urge all people of good will to join us in advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in Mississippi. Let us be a people who respond to violence not with vengeance, but with justice that is rooted in mercy, hope, and the unshakeable belief in the dignity of the human person.