@)
CATHOLIC
CONFERENCE
OF KENTUCKY
1042 Burlington Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601-8487
Tel (502)875-4345
Fax (502)875-2841
www.ccky.org
August 30, 2010
The Honorable Steven L. Beshear
Governor
The Commonwealth of Kentucky
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Dear Governor Beshear:
Last Wednesday, August 25, your office released the documentation related to the death warrant you signed in the case of Mr.
Gregory Wilson.
As the religious leaders of the four Catholic dioceses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, we request an audience with you to
discuss Mr. Wilson’s pending execution and the effect of the death penalty on society. As you may know, Mr. Wilson is
Catholic, having been baptized and confirmed by the retired Bishop of Owensboro, Bishop John McRaith.
During his 1999 visit to the United States, Pope John Paul II taught about the death penalty in his homily in St. Louis: “Modern
society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform.” In solidarity with Pope
John Paul II’s teaching, the US Catholic bishops issued their own statement calling for an end to the use of the death penalty, A
Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death, a copy of which is enclosed. http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/penaltyofdeath.pdf
In view of the scheduled execution date of September 16, we request an audience with you as soon as possible to discuss this
most urgent matter for Mr. Wilson and the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
‘Sop € Alig + Pa,
+ Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz + Most Reverend Rog@t J. Foys
Archbishop of Louisville Bishop of Covington
Spt WSoun Ati 4
+Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer + Most Reverend William F. Med]
Bishop of Lexington Bishop of Owensboro
enc.
Most Reverend Most Reverend Most Reverend Most Reverend Robert J. Castagna
Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Roger. J. Foys, D.D. Ronald W. Gainer, D.D. William F. Medley, D.D. Executive Director
Archbishop of Louisville Bishop of Covington _ Bishop of Lexington Bishop of Owensboro
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