The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the state’s capital punishment methods are constitutional.

Michael F. Acquilano, J.D., director of the South Carolina Catholic Conference, released the following statement today regarding yesterday's ruling in Freddie E. Owens, et. al. v. Bryan P. Stirling, et al. which upholds the state’s three execution methods.

“The Catholic Conference is deeply disturbed by the news of the South Carolina Supreme Court’s ruling. The ‘options’ available to those condemned to death are cruel and unusual. No human being should be subjected to choose from every disgraceful option to end his or her own life.

“As Catholic Christians, we have a duty to defend all life from conception to natural death. It is unconscionable that the state, acting in our name and using public funds, will end the life of a human person when other means of promoting the common good and securing public safety are available.” 

Click the button below to read the full statement.