Every human life, given by God, is sacred
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the February 10, 2026, execution of Ronald Heath and commute his sentence to life without parole. Heath was sentenced to death for the 1989 first-degree murder of Michael Sheridan. He was also convicted of the 1977 second-degree murder of Michael Green.
While recognizing that the grave nature of Heath’s crimes merits severe punishment, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, pleaded in a letter to DeSantis that the governor spare Heath’s life.
“We appeal to you that it is possible both to achieve the purposes of punishment and to exercise mercy,” wrote Sheedy.
The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty attacks the inviolability of the human person. Life-long incarceration without the possibility of parole is a severe yet more humane punishment that recognizes the inherent dignity of the guilty person while also ensuring societal safety.
Prior to Heath’s execution date, Catholic faithful and members of the community will gather at multiple locations across Florida to pray for him, his victims, and their families, and for DeSantis as he considers the request to stay the execution. For times and locations in the Diocese of St. Augustine, click here.
Full text of letter to DeSantis
For media inquiries, please contact Michele Taylor at (850) 205-6817 or mtaylor@flaccb.org.
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is an agency of the Catholic Bishops of Florida. It speaks for the Church in matters of public policy and serves as liaison to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The archbishop and bishops of the seven (arch)dioceses in Florida constitute its board of directors.
