Lenten Campaign 2025
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The Ohio Catholic Conference, which represents all of Ohio's bishops, wrote a letter to the state's lawmakers urging them to support a bill that would ban the state from funding drugs that are used to end human lives.
If passed, this bill would abolish the death penalty in the state of Ohio.
The bishops, said the March 25, 2025, letter, have a mission to urge "followers of Christ, public officials, and all people of goodwill to recognize and promote the image of God found in every human being, especially those whom our society often discards."
The letter continued, "It is in this mission that we urge you, an elected representative of the people of Ohio, to uphold a consistent ethic of life by supporting legislation to prohibit the State of Ohio from funding the intentional termination of human life – including abortion, euthanasia, and execution –and to abolish the death penalty in favor of life without parole."
These policies, said the bishops, are "deeply connected," and would promote a culture where life is "cherished and protected."
"House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 134 recognize this unity by utilizing a non-severability clause to link these issues together," said the letter.
House Bill 72 and its Senate counterpart Senate Bill 134 are titled "Prohibit public funding for lethal injection drugs; death penalty."
The bills, which are presently in their respective committees, would ban the use of state funding to pay for "lethal injection drugs," which are defined in the bill as "any drug or combination of drugs, or a compounding component or active pharmaceutical ingredient, used to quickly and painlessly cause death."
Better alternative
If passed, this bill would prohibit the use of state funding for drugs used in abortions, euthanasia, and capital punishment, something the bishops praised.
"A government that sanctions the destruction of human life through taxpayer funding of abortion, euthanasia, or the use of capital punishment undermines the dignity of those it exists to serve and protect," said the bishops. "If taxpayer dollars are used to end life in the womb and hasten the death of the elderly, infirm, and suffering, what message does this send?"
A better alternative, said the letter, is for state funds to be used to "advance the common good and accompany and support those in need."
Ohio and capital punishment
There are presently 114 people on death row in Ohio.
The state last executed someone on July 18, 2018.
