Florida Catholic | ‘Not In My Name’

LINDA REEVES | FC

‘not in my name’

Catholics gather in prayer against the death penalty as state executes killer.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 07.02.08

PALM BEACH GARDENS | Catholics gathered on the grounds of St. Ignatius Loyola in silent prayers of peace and with Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito as Mark Dean Schwab was executed by lethal injection July 1.

The only sounds heard were the slow continuous beats of a drum and cars passing by on busy Military Trail as the crowd processed from St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral to the north corner of the cathedral grounds with rosaries in hand carrying a large black and white sign with the words “State–sponsored Killing is Wrong.”

“We need to educate Floridians as to why the death penalty is wrong,” said Don Kazimir, coordinator of the diocesan Office of Respect Life standing in the crowd of about 50 with his rosary. “As with the abortion issue, we need God’s help to eliminate the barbaric process.”

Schwab, 39, was sentenced 16 years ago in the 1991 kidnapping, rape and murder of 11–year–old Junny Rios–Martinez.

His execution is the first since the execution of Angel Diaz in December 2006. Schwab died at 6:15 p.m.

“As a Catholic, we think all life is sacred,” said Barbara Richardson, a parishioner of St. Ann in West Palm Beach who was among those praying and handing out fact sheets from the Florida Catholic Conference on Catholic the teaching on the death penalty.

“This execution and other executions are being done in our name. We need to take a stand and say ‘not in my name.’ “What the state is doing is wrong. There are other ways to protect society.”

The Office of Respect Life encourages all to pray for the end of the death penalty and for the family and friends of Junny Rios–Martinez.

Church Teaching

The position of the Catholic bishops in Florida on the death penalty was summarized in a January 2002 statement, which states that “capital punishment contributes to the escalating atmosphere of violence in our society and undermines belief of the inherent worth and dignity of human life.”

For more information, about respect life issues or the teaching of the Catholic Church on respect life issues such as the death penalty, call 561–775–9565.

Return to Diocese of Palm Beach Front Page

‘not in my name’

Church Teaching

Other Stories