SW News: The Catholic bishops of the US state of Missouri have expressed their sadness and disappointment over the execution of Ernest Lee Johnson, who was an Afro-American on death row for more than 25 years. He was given the lethal injection on Tuesday, October 5.

Johnson was convicted for a triple homicide during a robbery attempt at a convenience store in 1994. The Catholic Bishops, in a statement, said that though Johnson's crimes were terrible and he deserved punishment, the death penalty shouldn't be the answer for his crimes. They said that when horrible crimes like these are committed, "it is easy to call for vengeance and retribution"

The prelates added, "It may seem the only fair thing to do is to take a life for a life, but the death penalty does not make Missouri a safer or more civil state." They recalled the clemency that they requested on behalf of Johnson last month, saying it "degrades us as a society and teaches our children that violence is the proper response to violence."

The bishops further stated that when a person is given death penalty, they are being deprived of the opportunity to undergo the process of conversion and repent for their sins. They also added, "That important time for grace to work in a person's heart is taken away."

The prelates conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims murdered by Johnson and prayed for them. They said the people of Missouri should pray and look for another alternative to sort out these types of crimes rather than sentencing the murderer to death.

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, had sent a letter to the governor of Missouri Michael Parson on behalf of Pope Francis to stop the execution on October 1. Sister Helen Prejean, a US religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph who has worked against the death penalty for three decades, circulated the letter on Twitter. The letter by the prelate focused on "Johnson's humanity and the sanctity of all human life."