The execution of an Oklahoma man convicted in a double homicide has prompted renewed calls from the Church to end capital punishment, as Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City urged the faithful to pray for all those affected and to work toward abolition of the death penalty.
Kendrick Simpson was executed Feb. 12 for the 2006 murders of Glen Palmer, 20, and Anthony Jones, 19, who were shot outside an Oklahoma City nightclub. According to EWTN News, Simpson was pronounced dead at 10:19 a.m. after both the state’s Pardon and Parole Board and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution.
In the aftermath, Archbishop Coakley reflected publicly on the moral implications of the death penalty. According to EWTN News, he said the execution, coming soon after the state’s March for Life, “brought into stark reality just how much work remains” for pro-life advocates in Oklahoma.
While acknowledging the gravity of the crimes, the archbishop emphasized the Church’s call to uphold the dignity of every human life. “Heinous crimes should not go unpunished and our compassion and support for the victims and their loved ones is necessary,” he said, urging prayers for those “often dealing with incomprehensible grief,” according to EWTN News.
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At the same time, he warned that execution does not bring true healing. “The intentional killing of the perpetrator cannot heal those terrible wounds,” Coakley said, adding that the “pain and loss of one death cannot be extinguished by another violent death,” according to EWTN News.
Calling capital punishment incompatible with the Gospel’s vision of justice, the archbishop stated: “The death penalty is inhumane and a poor method of punishment, standing in opposition to our duty to respect and value all human life and cherish God’s plan for humankind, which includes merciful justice and the opportunity for the redemption of the soul,” as reported by EWTN News.
Oklahoma remains one of the most active states in carrying out executions. According to EWTN News, it ranks first in executions per capita and second only to Texas in total executions. Nationwide, the Death Penalty Information Center reports that 23 states and the District of Columbia have abolished capital punishment.
Archbishop Coakley, who has consistently advocated for ending the death penalty, renewed his appeal for prayer. According to EWTN News, he asked the faithful to join him in “praying for an end to the death penalty in our state and nationwide.” He also requested prayers “for the victims, Glen Palmer and Anthony Jones, and their families, as well as Kendrick Simpson and his family.”
Before his execution, Simpson addressed the victims’ families during his clemency hearing. According to EWTN News, he told them directly: “I apologize for murdering your sons.” He added, “I don’t make any excuses, I don’t blame others, and they didn’t deserve what happened to them.”
For Catholics, the case highlights the tension between justice and mercy in a society seeking to respond to grave evil. As the Church continues to affirm the dignity of every human person — including those who have committed serious crimes — Archbishop Coakley’s call serves as a reminder that the Gospel challenges believers to defend life at every stage, even in the most difficult circumstances.
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