Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Garcia Siller have sent a letter to Governor Perry to request a stay of execution for Mr. Humberto Leal Garcia. You may read the letter below, and you can also view a PDF of this letter here.
June 13, 2011
The Honorable Rick Perry
Governor’s Office
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Dear Governor Perry,
On behalf of the Archdioceses of Galveston-Houston and San Antonio, we urge you to grant a stay of execution for Mr. Humberto Leal Garcia who is currently scheduled to be executed on July 7. As you know, the Roman Catholic Church does not believe the use of the death penalty is needed in our society anymore and in this case there is another compelling reason not to impose this irreversible sentence.
It is our understanding that Mr. Leal is a foreign national who has been scheduled for execution despite having never been given access to a consular representative from his native country, Mexico. Nor was the Mexican consulate ever notified after Mr. Leal’s 1994 arrest. In 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held that Mr. Leal must have a hearing to determine if he was harmed by the United States’ violation of the Vienna Convention. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the United States is obligated to comply with the ICJ decision, but that Congress must act to implement the Court’s decision. Both the Bush and Obama administrations have sought to enforce the decision, and have supported federal legislation to provide hearings for Mr. Leal and other Mexican nationals denied their consular rights.
We believe that a stay of execution would allow time for Congress to remedy the violations in Mr. Leal’s case. This is important because if Mr. Leal is executed despite the Vienna Convention violations, other nations could be emboldened to violate the consular rights of U.S. citizens arrested in foreign countries.
We have tremendous sympathy for the family of Adria Sauceda and in no way wish to diminish the suffering they have endured as a result of her death. Our Church fully believes that those who commit terrible, violent crimes must be incarcerated, both as just punishment and in order to protect society. We stand in solidarity with victims and their loved ones. However, when it comes to matters of life and death, morality and common sense call for justice, mercy, and for careful safeguards.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that a true neighbor is one who shows mercy (Luke 10:37). Showing mercy does not mean neglecting to administer justice or punish people for their crimes. Showing mercy does mean exhibiting compassion toward all of our brothers and sisters, and providing them with an opportunity for atonement and rehabilitation.
As Christians, we are taught that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). Our society has the means of effectively rendering criminals harmless in order to provide them with an opportunity for reform, yet the death penalty denies them this opportunity. It is our teaching that if bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, which is the case in our society, public authority should limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person (Catechism of the Catholic Church).
We continue to pray for the Sauceda family. We also pray for Humberto Leal, his family and all those affected by Adria Sauceda’s death. And, because of our conviction that mercy truly does triumph over judgment, we urge you to grant a stay of execution.
Yours in Christ,
+ Daniel Cardinal DiNardo + Gustovo Garcia Siller
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia Siller
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston Archbishop of San Antonio
1700 San Jacinto 2718 W. Woodlawn Ave.
Houston, Texas 77002 San Antonio, Texas, 78228
(713) 659-5461 (210)734-2620
Click here to download a PDF of this letter.
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