Catholic bishops implore Governor DeSantis to spare the life of Thomas Gudinas

Tallahassee, FL - The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) has requested Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Thomas Gudinas and commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Gudinas is scheduled to be executed on June 24 for the 1994 murder of Michelle McGrath in Orlando.  

In a letter to DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, acknowledged the heinous nature of Gudinas' actions and the duty of the state to protect its citizens and impose appropriate punishment for crimes. “It is indeed a duty of the state to protect the lives and safety of its citizens and to impose appropriate punishment for crimes, and we recognize your responsibility in ensuring this duty is carried out.,” wrote Sheedy. 

Sheedy went on to note that Gudinas himself was the victim of abuse as a child, was mentally impaired and addicted to drugs and alcohol – factors which do not diminish the severity of his crimes but should give pause before putting him to death. “There is a way to punish without ending another human life,” wrote Sheedy. “Life-long incarceration without the possibility of parole is a severe yet more humane punishment that ensures societal safety, allows the guilty the possibility of redemption, and offers finality to court processes.”  

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life, given by God, is sacred. This sacredness is not contingent upon one’s guilt or innocence. The death penalty attacks the inviolability of the human person and perpetuates the cycle of violence that is prevalent in our culture. Given our modern penal system, executions are unnecessary.

Before Gudinas' scheduled execution, Floridians will gather across the state to pray for him, for the family of McGrath and for DeSantis as he considers the request to stay the execution. 

Full text of letter to DeSantis