{"id":2359,"date":"2017-01-31T22:58:20","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T03:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/labmind\/?p=2359"},"modified":"2017-01-31T22:58:20","modified_gmt":"2017-02-01T03:58:20","slug":"southern-bishops-speak-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/labmind\/2017\/01\/southern-bishops-speak-life.html","title":{"rendered":"Southern Bishops Speak for Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"IMG_9841\"<\/p>\n

This morning in Augusta, Georgia, Bishop Estevez of Saint Augustine, Bishop Hartmayer, OFM Conv of Savannah, and Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta held a press conference outside the Richmond County Courthouse in defense of life.<\/p>\n

Last April, Steven James Murray murdered the Saint Augustine priest Father Rene Robert and dumped the body near Waynesboro, Georgia. \u00a0Prosecutors have stated they may\u00a0pursue the death penalty in this case.<\/p>\n

Father Rene Robert\u2019s ministry focused on ministry to convicts, both in prison and after their release. \u00a0 He recognized the inherent dignity of every human person, including those who had committed terrible crimes. \u00a0A Franciscan friar before becoming a priest of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, Father Robert was aware of the danger his ministry entailed. \u00a0Despite the risk, he served some of society\u2019s most troubled and needy people.<\/p>\n

Bishop Hartmayer, a fellow Franciscan, spoke not only as bishop of the diocese where the crime occurred, but also as a representative of the Franciscan Conventual Province of Our Lady of the Angles. \u00a0Reading a statement from the Franciscan Provincial, Father James McCurry, OFM Conv, he stated, \u201cIn the spirit of Saint Francis, Fr. Rene was a man of mercy, who understood the plight of the poor and the dysfunctional. \u00a0In his ministry to prisoners, he came face to face with violent and sociopathic criminals. \u00a0He always treated them with the same intense understanding and compassion that Saint Francis had exercised towards society\u2019s misfits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9824\"<\/p>\n

The Catholic Church defends life from conception to natural death, and advocating against the death penalty is consistent with the Church\u2019s teaching. \u00a0Though the Church recognizes that the state has the right to execute a criminal, she also believes that sentencing a criminal to life in prison allows for a conversion of heart. \u00a0Why fight violence with more violence? \u00a0In a nation where it is possible to incarcerate a criminal for life without any risk, it is better to do so.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9835\"<\/a>
Bishop Estevez stands with a Saint Augustine seminarian holding 7,400 petitions to not execute Steven Murray<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Bishops pointed out the significant fact that in 1995 Father Robert signed a \u201cDeclaration of Life\u201d where he stated that if he was murdered, he did not want the perpetrator to be executed. \u00a0This Declaration of Life adds an interesting dimension to the case since it appears Father Robert had a sense that his type of ministry could lead to his death. \u00a0It speaks of a man of conviction who despite reasonable fears, deeply trusted in God and continued this unique ministry.<\/p>\n

After the press conference, the three bishops were received by the Acting District\u00a0Attorney\u00a0Hank Sims who was sworn in just this morning. \u00a0The Archbishop described him as \u201copen, candid, and most gracious.\u201d \u00a0Bishop Estevez presented a petition with 7,400 signatures asking that Mr. Murray not be executed. \u00a0Father Rene lovingly served men just like Steven James Murray and would not want him to be executed.<\/p>\n

The press conference was a concrete defense of human dignity and a way to honor the wishes of Father Rene Robert. \u00a0May he rest in peace, and may the Lord grant the grace of true repentance to Mr. Murray.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"IMG_9822\"<\/p>\n

All pictures are mine, all rights reserved.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This morning in Augusta, Georgia, Bishop Estevez of Saint Augustine, Bishop Hartmayer, OFM Conv of Savannah, and Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta held a press conference outside the Richmond County Courthouse in defense of life. Last April, Steven James Murray murdered the Saint Augustine priest Father Rene Robert and dumped the body near Waynesboro, Georgia. \u00a0Prosecutors […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":2363,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[205],"tags":[515,516,227,514,19,512,513,511,510],"class_list":["post-2359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","tag-archbishop-gregory","tag-atlanta","tag-augusta","tag-bishop-estevez","tag-bishop-hartmayer","tag-death-penalty","tag-father-rene-roberts","tag-human-dignity","tag-prolife"],"yoast_head":"\nSouthern Bishops Speak for Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This morning in Augusta, Georgia, Bishop Estevez of Saint Augustine, Bishop Hartmayer, OFM Conv of Savannah, and Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta held a\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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