Kentucky’s Bishops Praise Governor Patton
and Offer Prayer
for Victim’s Family
Frankfort, KY (June 19, 2003) – Kentucky’s Roman Catholic
bishops today praised Governor Paul Patton for his leadership in the
commutation of Kevin Stanford’s death sentence. The bishops also are calling
on all Roman Catholics and people of good will to pray that Ms. Poore’s family
will find healing and a new lasting peace. Stanford was 17 years old when
he was convicted of raping and then murdering Ms. Baerbel Poore in Jefferson
County.
The bishops believe that the Governor’s action yesterday holds
Kevin Stanford accountable for his crime and will bring a new respect for the
value of human life, even of those convicted of horrible crimes. The bishops
called on Governor Patton to use his power of Executive Clemency out of
concern for Mr. Stanford, but also for the common good of society. According
to Scott Wegenast, a policy analyst for CCK, "The bishops requested clemency
not only out of concern for Mr. Stanford as a human person, but also because
of our belief that the use of the death penalty diminishes us all. Governor
Patton has set an important example by saying "no" to more violence in
Kentucky."
According to Fr. Pat Delahanty, CCK policy analyst, "This is
fantastic; Governor Patton did the right thing. He has set a courageous
example for all elected officials by demonstrating that justice can be served
without society resorting to more violence. If society is going to have a
death penalty, at least you should not impose it on children."
The Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty does not
arise from misplaced sympathy for convicted murderers. The Church’s opposition
to the death penalty is founded on our belief that all human life is sacred
and must be respected, even the lives of those guilty of murder. Pope John
Paul II has called on Catholics to seek an end to the death penalty. In his
1999 visit to St. Louis, Missouri, the Holy Father stated, "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."
Stanford’s final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected
in a divided 5-4 decision on October 22, 2002. CCK joined with other youth
advocates, the Kentucky Council of Churches and many other faith communities
in calling upon the Governor to respect human life by commuting Kevin
Stanford’s death sentence.
The Catholic Conference of Kentucky is the public policy arm
of the state’s four Roman Catholic Bishops.
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