I've spent most of my adult life fighting for the little ones in the womb waiting to be born. For many infants, it's the most dangerous place in the world. That was recently emphasized by the attempt of a couple to force the surrogate mother carrying "their" baby to undergo abortion because the little one had a curable heart problem. She refused and fled from the death state of California to Texas where the little one could be treated after birth.
Little Gabriel survived mom and dad's efforts to kill him. He's getting the treatment he needs now in a state that recognizes as the parent the mother who gives birth. But a California judge recently ruled that the baby's custody goes to the couple who wanted him killed. The surrogate mom was forbidden to see the baby after birth. Ironically the lawyer for these death peddlers called them "loving parents" and denounced the surrogate for interfering with the little one's "medical care," i.e., she prevented his "loving parents" from killing him. Some "medical care" eh? The next hearing is August 25th. Let us all pray for this precious little one named after the messenger angel who brought the news of the Messiah to our Blessed Mother.
The surrogate mom, McKenna West is suing for custody of the baby. This is certainly a Solomon case and it's clear who the real mother is. West's lawyers plan to carry the case to the Supreme Court if necessary, thanks be to God. Let us all pray that this little one ends up in the arms of the mom who saved his life. God only knows what will happen to that baby if he's returned to the "parents" who tried to kill him.
What does this have to do with the title of this post and capital punishment? I'll tell you.
Recently Archbishop Paul Coakley, President of the USCCB, posted on X about the execution of Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez and said Oklahoma is “carrying out executions with a frequency and regularity that places it among the nation’s leaders." He went on to say that, “Capital punishment does not provide justice. Our modern prisons are secure. Life imprisonment offers assurance that citizens are not at risk. And it allows for a conversion of hearts.” Really? How accurate is the archbishop?
Oklahoma has executed 132 murderers since 1990. Do the math. Five executions a year for 26 years in a state the Oklahoma Department of Health says averages 268 murders every year. [Source] So is Oklahoma a hanging state? Only 1% of murderers face the death penalty after years of legal appeals. That's the bishop's idea of "frequent and regular?"
And what exactly was Cuesta-Rodriguez's crime? He stalked and shot his common law wife in the face in front of her 18 year old pregnant daughter. The jury that convicted him in 2003 considered him a threat to society, especially because of the heinous nature of the crime. He was executed on August 13, 2026, 23 years later. Oklahoma was in no hurry!
Prior to his execution, Rodriguez did not plead for clemency but told the clemency and parole board, "It's time for me to pay for what I did." A Catholic priest, his spiritual adviser, was with him when he died, evidence that he repented and was ready to meet the final judge.
Tell me, does this not sound like Dismas talking to his fellow prisoner and to Christ from his cross? Capital punishment is not an act of revenge. It is both justice and mercy. Facing death has a way of focusing the mind. St. Therese prayed for the repentance of the murderer, Pranzini, who grasped the cross on the scaffold.
And now let's talk about the bishop. Compare the vigilance and hand-wringing by him and many of his confreres over the death penalty vs. their concern over the millions of babies killed by abortion every year. They certainly pay lip service to the little ones, but they undo it with their funding of abortion through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities, and Catholic Relief Services. They help elect pro-abortion politicians every year. The hypocrisy is breath-taking.
To be fair, the bishops are in the process of inaugurating a website to fight the easy availability of the abortion death pills. It allows users to send multiple messages to politicians, pharmacies, etc. Meanwhile, their charities continue to promote contraceptive use which are often abortifacient.
Excuse me if I'm unimpressed by their website. It's so easy and makes them look so vigilant, eh? But are they? How many abortionists have been praised and recognized for their social concern over the climate and other non-intrinsic moral issues. How many are invited to the Vatican for this or that "summit?"
So I ask...Will Archbishop Richard Henning of Massachusetts excommunicate the Catholic governor, Maura Healey who signed a bill allowing abortion up to birth in that evil state? LifeSiteNews has a petition requesting him to do just that which was signed by 18,000 in the first 48 hours of posting. Frankly, I'm not holding my breath. Keep in mind that Healy was invited to participate in a Vatican summit on climate change when Francis was pope. She has "social compassion." [Source] How politically correct would it be to excommunicate her? She wears the seamless garment.
Let me be clear. I'm in favor of the death penalty. How do you protect prisoners and jail personnel from inmates if they have nothing to lose by murdering someone, say during an escape attempt? The Marshall Project examines violence and jail deaths. From 2019 to 2023 they found this:
Fatal violence between incarcerated people occurred with some regularity. More than 400 deaths were ruled homicides not involving law enforcement officials. There were fewer than 10 reported incidences of an officer's use of force resulting in death in the dataset. Many of those were due to blunt force trauma, choking or the use of a stun gun.
Executions were the least common way people died behind bars. The government only reported 18 such cases in the dataset and we found an additional three cases that had been mislabeled. This number is an undercount. Records from the Death Penalty Information Center show 70 people executed across the United States during the period covered by this dataset.
I personally think anyone who murders someone in jail while incarcerated should face the death penalty for the protection of jail personnel and other prisoners. Do-gooders tell us that the death penalty doesn't deter violent crimes, but it sure deters future crimes by the one who is executed. This issue hits pretty close to home. My brother had a friend murdered by a murderer who was released. The state believed he'd paid his debt to society. He went on to murder again.
And please don't tell me you have to oppose the death penalty to be pro-life. Rodriguez spent years in the legal system with hearing after hearing to defend himself and protect his rights. The baby in the womb gets no hearing, no lawyer, no defense, just the abortionist's knife or the death pill. There is no comparison between abortion and the death penalty. Absolutely none!
I'm offering my prayers today for everyone on death row that, in facing their crime and punishment, they experience a profound conversion that brings them to the feet of the crucified Lord who is ready to forgive them and welcome them saying, "This day you will be with me in paradise."
And I'm praying that McKenna West is recognized as the true mom of little Gabriel and for all the babies threatened by abortion. They should have as many rights as murderers on death row.
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