Bishops seek to prevent execution set for Ash Wednesday

The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops asked the Jindal administration late Monday to halt the scheduled execution Feb. 13 of a convicted child killer because that lethal injection would occur on Ash Wednesday.

“To execute a faithful Catholic on Ash Wednesday would be inconsistent with the Lenten call for reconciliation and redemption and an unnecessary tragic irony,” the bishops said in a news release.

Christopher Sepulvado, 68, of DeSoto Parish, was convicted for the 1992 murder of his 6-year-old stepson, Wesley Allen Mercer. The horrific death occurred a day after Sepulvado married the child’s mother.

A trial jury decided that Sepulvado beat the boy unconscious with the handle of a screwdriver, then immersed him in scalding bath water.

The Louisiana Supreme Court rejected Sepulvado’s appeal of his conviction, noting that Wesley Mercer had third-degree burns over 58 percent of his body and his “scalp had separated from his skull due to hemorrhaging and bruising.”

On Monday, the bishops described Sepulvado’s actions as “evil and tragic.” They added: “We acknowledge the Christian power of reconciliation and redemption, which Christopher has embraced. He has expressed remorse for his actions while at the same time embracing his faith and ministering to his fellow inmates.”

The bishops noted that state officials can punish convicted murderers through nonlethal means such as life imprisonment.

“Executing Christopher will not bring Wesley back to life, nor will it provide healing, reconciliation or peace to those involved,” the bishops wrote in their release. “We offer prayer for and solidarity with those family members impacted by this crime as we do for all family members of victims of violent crime and murder.”

On Friday, the Louisiana Supreme Court announced its rejection of Sepulvado’s appeal of his death penalty.

Sepulvado’s New Orleans attorney, Gary P. Clements, is asking U.S. District Judge James J. Brady to merge Sepulvado’s appeal with that of fellow death row inmate Jessie Hoffman.

Hoffman contends that the state’s lethal injection formula may subject convicted murderers to excruciating pain while they are mute and paralyzed.

Clements said Friday that is because sodium thiopental, which renders two other lethal-injection chemicals painless, is no longer available.

Comments

1) Comment by muddy - 05/02/2013

Who cares if the cocktail they use is painful.did their victims die quick and painless,no. And as for the church,i am a catholic,it is easy for a tax exempt group to say i should pay more taxes to keep someone in prison when they have no right to breathe anymore.postpone the deed by 24 hours and give them a 2 for 1 sale on. or take them to the gator pond and shoot them.

2) Comment by DMJ - 05/02/2013

I agree. Kill him on Good Friday. It'd be more appropriate....thematically, anyway.

3) Comment by tradewinns - 05/02/2013

someone tell these bishops to please return their heads back up where the sun dont shine.

4) Comment by tradewinns - 05/02/2013

god is waiting to have a discussion with this thing. if ash wednesday is a bad day, due it the tuesday prior.

5) Comment by Strider - 05/02/2013

The LCCB's opposition to the execution of Sepulvado is not based on the fact that it is currently scheduled to occur on Ash Wednesday. They are opposed to the taking of a life by execution. Catholic teachings are clear that any life is sacred, both the innocent and the guilty. In addition to their stated opposition, the bishops only said that it is ironic that the execution is scheduled on a day of repentance and atonement.

6) Comment by wherearewegoing - 05/02/2013

@slye753 Interesting comment. I agree. - @“Executing Christopher will not bring Wesley back to life, nor will it provide healing, reconciliation or peace to those involved,” the bishops wrote in their release. That isn't the point of a punishment! When your child says a bad word you don't punish them in the hopes that time turns back and the word was never said. You do it to teach them a lesson and incentivize them not to do it again. And in a case like this we should be trying to convince others not to commit this crime again. Though, 21 years on death row (three hot meals a day and a bed to sleep in) followed by a painless death isn't really much of a negative incentive.

7) Comment by slye753 - 05/02/2013

Separation of state and religion has to work both ways. Let the state do its duty.

8) Comment by Chucky - 05/02/2013

God will understand, give him the needle.