Virginia bishop urges mercy as DC-area sniper faces execution

November 06, 2009

As prison authorities in Virginia prepare for the scheduled November execution of John Allen Muhammad, who was convicted of a series of sniper murders carried out around Washington, DC, in 2002, Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington has argued against the use of the death penalty. Writing in his diocesan newspaper, Bishop Loverde reasons:

If non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Hope in life, even in the midst of despair (Arlington Catholic Herald)
• John Allen Muhammad (Wikipedia)