As Florida schedules another execution for June 10, Bishop Emeritus Felipe Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine has issued a public appeal to Governor Ron DeSantis: stop the cycle of violence and uphold the sanctity of life.
In his statement that he shared with local newspapers, Bishop Estévez calls for compassion and moral courage, urging Florida to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole. He reminds us that every human being—even those who have done great harm—has an inherent dignity that cannot be erased. He also points out that executions are not only unnecessary in a secure prison system, but also more costly to taxpayers than life sentences.
This is a pivotal moment for Florida. We invite all people of goodwill to reflect on the bishop’s words—and to take action.
What you can do:
- Pray for victims, their families, those on death row and for our state’s leaders.
- Contact Governor Ron DeSantis and respectfully urge him to commute the sentence scheduled for June 10 and work toward ending the death penalty in Florida.
- Share the bishop’s statement to raise awareness and advocate for a more merciful justice system.
- Prayer vigils scheduled for June 10 in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Click here.
Contact the Governor: https://flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact
