“As the state of Florida moves forward on a death warrant for Mr. Lambrix, they are asserting procedural bar against allowing a hearing on his evidence of self-defense and other late discovered evidence of innocence. The purpose of procedural bar in death penalty cases is so the state can kill people without giving them a chance to present late-discovered evidence of their innocence to the court. From a moral standpoint, every person of biblical faith should be outraged at any attempt by the state to use procedural bar in death penalty cases. Exodus 23:7 All persons of Catholic faith should be doubly outraged in light of the specific teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas that the execution of an innocent person is intrinsically evil. In principal, procedural bar should be banned in all death penalty cases. In this case specifically, the courts should order that the evidence be heard. Even a minimum of moral decency requires it.”
Dale S. Recinella, Catholic Correctional Chaplain