Missouri bishops plead for death row inmate on eve of execution

[Michie]

The Catholic bishops of Missouri are urging the faithful to contact Republican Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted murderer Brian Dorsey, who is controversially scheduled to die Tuesday, April 9, in the state’s first execution of 2024.

Dorsey, 52, was arrested in 2006 and later convicted of shooting and killing his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband Ben. Dorsey’s lawyers argued that he was in a drug-induced psychosis, as he was suffering from chronic depression and addicted to crack cocaine at the time of the killings.

The Missouri Catholic Conference, which advocates for public policy on behalf of the state’s five bishops, said that in addition to the fact that Dorsey “endured substantial mental and physical childhood trauma,” he also has claimed ineffective assistance of counsel, as his attorneys at the time — who were being paid a small flat fee to defend him — entered him into a plea deal without contesting the possibility of capital punishment.

Dorsey’s death sentence has garnered scrutiny. During more than 17 years spent on death row, Dorsey complied zero infractions and served as a barber for other prisoners and for wardens, staff, and chaplains — trusted using potentially deadly instruments. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a group of 72 current and former Missouri correctional officers submitted and signed a letter vouching for his character and asking Parson to grant Dorsey clemency and commute his death sentence

Continued below.

Missouri bishops plead for death row inmate on eve of execution

The Catholic bishops of Missouri are urging the faithful to contact Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted murderer Brian Dorsey.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[AlexB23]

The Catholic bishops of Missouri are urging the faithful to contact Republican Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted murderer Brian Dorsey, who is controversially scheduled to die Tuesday, April 9, in the state’s first execution of 2024.

Dorsey, 52, was arrested in 2006 and later convicted of shooting and killing his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband Ben. Dorsey’s lawyers argued that he was in a drug-induced psychosis, as he was suffering from chronic depression and addicted to crack cocaine at the time of the killings.

The Missouri Catholic Conference, which advocates for public policy on behalf of the state’s five bishops, said that in addition to the fact that Dorsey “endured substantial mental and physical childhood trauma,” he also has claimed ineffective assistance of counsel, as his attorneys at the time — who were being paid a small flat fee to defend him — entered him into a plea deal without contesting the possibility of capital punishment.

Dorsey’s death sentence has garnered scrutiny. During more than 17 years spent on death row, Dorsey complied zero infractions and served as a barber for other prisoners and for wardens, staff, and chaplains — trusted using potentially deadly instruments. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, a group of 72 current and former Missouri correctional officers submitted and signed a letter vouching for his character and asking Parson to grant Dorsey clemency and commute his death sentence

Continued below.

Missouri bishops plead for death row inmate on eve of execution

The Catholic bishops of Missouri are urging the faithful to contact Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted murderer Brian Dorsey.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Man, I could write an essay about why execution is unethical and un-Christian, but I am not. The Vatican already did, in his Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity, which was posted by @Michie in another thread.

Here is a summary of the article (Missouri bishops plead for death row inmate on eve of execution):

The article by Jonah McKeown, published on April 8, 2024, discusses the urgent plea from the Catholic bishops of Missouri for Republican Gov. Mike Parson to stay the execution of convicted murderer Brian Dorsey, who is scheduled to die on April 9, 2024, in Missouri's first execution of 2024. Dorsey, 52, was arrested and later convicted for shooting and killing his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband Ben in 2006.

Dorsey's lawyers argued that he was suffering from a drug-induced psychosis due to chronic depression and addiction to crack cocaine during the time of the crime. They also claimed that Dorsey endured significant mental and physical childhood trauma and ineffective assistance of counsel, as his attorneys at the time entered him into a plea deal without considering capital punishment as an option.

Despite Dorsey's apparent rehabilitation during his 17 years on death row, where he complied with no infractions and served as a barber for other prisoners and staff, the Missouri Supreme Court scheduled his execution last December. Dorsey has appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A group of 72 current and former Missouri correctional officers submitted a letter vouching for Dorsey's character, urging the governor to grant him clemency and commute his death sentence. However, Dorsey's attorneys argue that Missouri Department of Corrections' execution protocols, which include cutting into the person to set an IV line, will prevent him from having spiritual discussions or participating in his last religious rites with his spiritual adviser.

The Missouri Catholic Conference advocates for public policy on behalf of the state's five bishops and is urging the faithful to contact Gov. Parson to request clemency for Dorsey. The conference will be hosting a "respectful protest" outside the governor's office at the Missouri State Capitol on April 9 from noon to 1 p.m. The Catholic Church opposes the death penalty due to its disregard for human life's sanctity and dignity, as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Missouri is one of the most active states in carrying out executions in the U.S., having executed four in 2023 alone and being one of only five states to carry out executions last year. Parson has not granted clemency to anyone on death row since taking office in 2018.

 

[DJWhalen]

Murder needs a death penalty. That's the only thing that needs a death penalty.

 

[AlexB23]

Murder needs a death penalty. That's the only thing that needs a death penalty.

This is my view on this. As created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), every human life is precious and sacred. This belief extends to the lives of those who have committed heinous crimes. In the Old Testament, there are numerous instances where God commands the ancient Israelites to show mercy and compassion (e.g., Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 15:11, 27:19). The New Testament teachings of Jesus further emphasize the importance of love and forgiveness (Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36). You can also check the document the Vatican released on April 8th, 2024 which explains how executions are not pro-life. Vatican document: Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity

Also, the death of the convicted criminal does not bring back the lives of their victims or provide any solace to their families. Furthermore, there is a risk that the execution of an innocent person may occur due to human error or bias. These concerns align with the Christian emphasis on mercy, forgiveness, and the inherent worth of every human life.

Are you pro-life? If you are pro-life towards babies, then one can be pro-life towards all. A lifetime sentence for these criminals in a jail cell would suffice instead of executions. I am pro-life myself, from conception to death (unless both mother and child are at severe risk, then instead of two fatalities, the abortion of the fetus could save the mother).

 

[DJWhalen]

I am pro-live and a murder that set on death row for 8 yrs, no new events came forth. Take a life and forfeit your life. Hanging still works, put the knot on the side of the neck and pull the trap door break's the neck. Cost of the rope and the guy who pull the trap door... cheap.

 

[Michie]

Missouri governor denies clemency to death row inmate

The Catholic bishops of Missouri had strongly urged the faithful to contact Gov. Mike Parson and ask him to stay Brian Dorsey’s execution.

www.catholicnewsagency.com