Bishops of Florida has appealed to Governor Scott to stop executions beginning with Oscar Bolin

Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops

Urge Governor Scott to Commute Death Sentence; Stop Signing Warrants

Oscar Ray Bolin

Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on January 7 at 6:00 p.m. for the 1986 murder of Teri Lynn Matthews. If carried out, Bolin would be the 23rd Death Row inmate executed under Governor Scott's leadership. Bolin is serving a separate death sentence for the murder of Stephanie Collins and received a life sentence for the murder of Natalie Blanche Holley.

On behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, has appealed to Governor Scott to stop executions in Florida beginning with Oscar Bolin. "We urge you to recognize that the life of each person has dignity and should be respected, even those who have done great harm," said Sheedy in his January 4 letter to the governor.

We sympathize with the profound pain of the victims of brutal crimes. Another death, however, does not provide true healing for those who mourn.

By ending the use of the death penalty, we would take an important step to abandon the culture of death and embrace the culture of life.

ACTION: Please send a message to Governor Scott urging him to commute Oscar Bolin's death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and to stop signing death warrants.

Also, join Catholic faithful and members of the community to pray for victims and aggressor, and their families, for our society which continues to impose violence in return for violence, and for an end to the use of the death penalty. Click here to find locations and times of prayer vigils in your area.