Bishop argues for commuting death sentences in South Dakota

Published: 2006-08-21

RAPID CITY, S.D. (CNS) -- In an opinion piece published Aug. 19 in the Rapid City Journal daily newspaper, Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City asked Gov. Mike Rounds to commute two convicted killers' sentences to life imprisonment. Elijah Page, 24, is scheduled to be executed the week of Aug. 28 for his part in the 2000 beating, torture and killing of Chester Poage during a robbery. Briley Piper, 25, also awaits execution for the crime. A third man, Darrell Hoadley, 26, was sentenced to life in prison. Bishop Cupich wrote that, clearly, criminals must be held accountable for their actions. "But let's be honest," he said. "The execution of convicted criminals is an act of violence. It is an act of violence in which -- with our representative form of government -- we all participate." The only way to break society's cycle of violence is to uphold the dignity of all human life, Bishop Cupich said.

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