Execution Halted

After years of refusing to file standard habeus corpus appeals, Nicholas Tate changed his mind on Tuesday night, halting his imminent execution.  People close to the case estimate that the appeals could take years to complete.

We join others who continue to hold the families of Chrissie and Katelyn Williams in their prayers, along with Mr. Tate and his family.  We continue to heed the words of Pope John Paul II:

The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made most recently at Christmas for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary.