Jose Antonio Jimenez is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1992 murder of Phyllis Minas.

In an August 9 letter to Governor Rick Scott on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, appealed to the governor to commute Jimenez’ death sentence to a life sentence without parole.

Given the development of doctrine involving the death penalty, the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s treatment of the topic was revised earlier this month. “This reflects the growing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of great crimes,” noted Sheedy. “…and that more effective forms of detention have been developed to ensure the due protection of citizens without definitively depriving the guilty of the possibility of redemption.”

In citing Pope Francis, the revised instruction concludes, “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,” and calls for the Church to work with determination for its abolition worldwide.

Prior to Jimenez’ scheduled execution, Catholic faithful and members of the community will gather across the state to pray for the victims of violent crimes and their families, for those on death row, for Governor Scott as he confronts the decision to proceed with the execution, and for an end to the use of the death penalty.

There will be a Prayer Vigil for an End to the Use of the Death Penalty on August 14, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Holiday. More details.

Spirit FM 90.5 will be praying on air on August 14 beginning at 5:50 p.m.

Prayer for an End to the Use of the Death Penalty