New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to advance a legislation to abolish capital punishment from state law.
The governor made his decision after Pope Francis declared that the death penalty is unacceptable in all cases. On Thursday, the Vatican said the Catholic Church will “work with determination towards the abolition of death penalty.”
In a statement yesterday, Cuomo said he is united with Pope Francis on this issue.
Cuomo Says Death Penalty is ‘Morally Indefensible’
“Today, in solidarity with Pope Francis and in honor of my father, I will be advancing legislation to remove the death penalty — and its ugly stain in our history — from state law once and for all,” Cuomo said. “Pope Francis is ushering in a more righteous world for us all. The death penalty is morally indefensible and has no place in the 21st century.”
Furthermore, he said that the pope’s declaration is a “validation” of his father’s belief that capital punishment was wrong. During his term as governor, the late Mario Cuomo vetoed (12 times) legislation reinstating the death penalty.
