Florida bishops push governor to stay two executions

Published: 2006-01-23

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CNS) -- Florida's Catholic bishops were among those asking Gov. Jeb Bush to stay two January executions, saying the pain and loss felt by the families of the people who were murdered "cannot be wiped away by another death." Clarence Edward Hill, 48, was scheduled to be executed Jan. 24 for the 1982 murder of a Pensacola police officer, Stephen Taylor, during an attempted bank robbery. Arthur Dennis Rutherford, 56, was scheduled to be executed Jan. 26 for the 1985 murder of a Santa Rosa County woman, Stella Salamon, for whom he had done some household repair work. In a Jan. 19 statement issued by the Florida Catholic Conference, the state's nine bishops asked Bush to stay the executions and commute the sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. "Reflecting on the continuous exposure to violence in society, which hardens the hearts and minds of even our youngest members, we reiterate our plea for respect for life, even for those who are guilty of violence," the statement said.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .