Coronavirus, elections, and McCarrick dominate 2020 in U.S.
Dec 30, 2020 national correspondent
2020 in the United States, like the rest of the world, will always be synonymous with the coronavirus pandemic. It’s taken over 330,000 American lives to date, put millions out of work and single-handedly changed the way society lives and communicates.
That is, however, only one chapter in the story of the American Catholic Church in 2020.
NEW YORK 2020 in the United States, like the rest of the world, will always be synonymous with the coronavirus pandemic. It’s taken over 330,000 American lives to date, put millions out of work and single-handedly changed the way society lives and communicates.
Killing in Our Name: Federal Executions and Pro-life Witness
As the end of his administration approaches, President Trump has restarted the use of the federal death penalty. Since July there have been 10 executions with another three before he leaves office. These federal executions are the first in 17 years and raise critical moral, human, and policy choices for the nation and a new presidential administration.
In the United States, executions and death sentences have declined dramatically, and public support for capital punishment is at historic lows. Catholic teaching against capital punishment is rooted in our recognition of the inherent dignity of each person and in the sanctity of human life. Pope John Paul II appealed for an end to the death penalty during a visit to the United States, and Pope Benedict XVI spoke even more strongly, calling on world leaders to “make every effort to eliminate the death penalty.” In line with his predecessors, Pope Francis called for the a