Austin, Texas - "Many of us say that we live in a culture of death," stated Bishop Gregory Aymond during a press conference at the State Capitol.

Bishop Aymond, speaking on behalf of the Texas Catholic Conference, reiterated Catholic Teaching on the death penalty, stating, "We do not believe as people who believe in Jesus, that it is right to continue this cycle of death. Even if someone has experienced or committed the terrible, egregious crime of taking the life of another, does that give us the right to take their life?" Click here to read a transcript of  Bishop Aymond's remarks.

This year, which marks Texas' 25^th year of the use of the death penalty, the state accounted for 62% of all executions that took place in the United States this year, according to a new report from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP).

Luckily, the number of new death sentences in Texas have declined by 50% over the last five years, mirroring national trends. Seven inmates scheduled for execution this year have received last-minute stays, due to concerns about their possible innocence, the fairness of their trial, or issues related to lethal injection. Texas also commuted the death sentence of Kenneth Foster to life in prison.

The Texas Catholic Conference, along with numerous other groups around the state, actively vied for this commutation. Click here to read the Bishops' letter requesting clemency for Kenneth Foster.

"Jesus seems to have been pretty clear when he said it's not an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth but it is rather compassion and justice and mercy," stated Bishop Aymond. "Jesus himself has said [he does] not desire the death of a sinner but rather that he or she be converted and live."

Concluding his remarks, the Bishop reiterated, "We must become a voice for life."

Bishop Aymond's Remarks

We live, unfortunately, in a culture today, throughout our country and all across the world as well, that is not a culture that respects the dignity and the reverence of human life. And that�s why many of us say that we live in a culture of death. And I suggest that there is a great deal of evidence around us that suggests that we do live in a culture that encourages death. We do not believe as people who believe in Jesus, that it is right to continue this cycle of death. Even if someone has experienced or committed the terrible, egregious crime of taking the life of another, does that give us the right to take their life. And so we as Christians, and certainly as Catholics, stand very, very strongly, and I represent not just myself, but the Catholic Church and all the Catholic bishops of Texas, in saying that we are concerned. And we appreciate you being here today. We appreciate you listening to this and carrying the message forward. We must become a voice for life.