Texas bishops appeal to district attorney, state board and governor to spare the life of death row inmate Melissa Lucio

Bishops seek a withdrawal of execution date, stay of execution and clemency

AUSTIN — The 21 Catholic bishops in active ministry in Texas have written Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Gov. Greg Abbott to spare the life of Melissa Lucio, a mother of 14 and a grandmother, who is sentenced to die April 27.

The bishops join a broad coalition, including the Innocence Project, domestic violence and battered women’s organizations, former prosecutors, bipartisan legislators and others, who call for a stay of execution to conduct a meaningful review of her case.

The letter, signed by every bishop and auxiliary bishop in Texas, can be found here.