CATHOLIC BISHOPS:  "SPARE AMOS KING"

                                                                            

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2002
Contact:  D. Michael McCarron
(850) 222-3803
E-mail:  mccarron@flacathconf.org

Tallahassee — We appeal to Governor Jeb Bush to commute the death sentence of Amos King to life in prison without parole.  In making this appeal, we acknowledge the tragic killing of Natalie Brady and we offer our genuine sympathy to all who continue to grieve her horrible death.  Killing Amos King for this crime, however, cannot right the wrong that was done.

We believe punishment by civil authorities should serve three main purposes: the preservation and protection of society, the restoration of public order, and the restoration or conversion of the offender.  Florida ’s alternative to executions, life in prison without parole, better serves these purposes than killing someone to show that killing is wrong.

The added violence of this execution is harmful to our society.  Every human life must be respected, even lives of those who fail to show that respect for others.  It is only when society cannot be protected in any other way that the death penalty is justified.  The sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person remain, even for one who violated the rights of others by taking human life.

We seek clemency for Amos King, and we offer our continued prayers for the family of Natalie Brady, and for all victims of the crime that took her life.