Bishops Laud New Mexico's Death Penalty Ban

(March 24, 2009) U.S. bishops are congratulating their colleagues in New Mexico, and others who worked toward banning the death penalty in this state. The U.S. bishops' conference issued a statement on their Web site last week, noting the "successful efforts" of advocates who helped New Mexico become one of 15 states to ban the death penalty. Bishop William Murphy, chairman of the conference's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, wrote to Governor Bill Richardson on March 16, requesting that he sign the bill in order to "help begin building a culture of life in our country." The governor signed the law on March 18 to repeal the death penalty in his state. The Director of the conference's Office of Domestic Social Development, Kathy Saile, reported, "The bishops of New Mexico and many others worked tirelessly, to see [their state] become a leader in turning away from the death penalty in our country."