By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
TALLAHASSEE | The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Gov. Rick Scott to spare the life of Patrick Hannon. Hannon is scheduled to be executed Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. for the 1991 murders of Brandon Snider and Robert Carter.
In a Nov. 6 letter on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, appealed to Gov. Scott to commute Hannon’s death sentence to a life sentence without parole.
“Indeed, Mr. Hannon’s violent acts call out for justice and should be condemned,” said Sheedy. “However, a life sentence without parole is an alternative and a severe sentence. It is not necessary to execute Mr. Hannon to keep society safe from him and to punish him, so we urge you to implement this non-lethal punishment and commute his sentence to life without the possibility of parole.”
Prior to Hannon’s scheduled execution, Catholic faithful and other concerned Floridians will gather in various locations across the state to pray for the victims and their families, the condemned on death row, and the governor as he confronts the decision to proceed with the execution.
In the Archdiocese of Miami, the vigils will take place as follows:
- St. Martha Church, 9401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami Shores, Wednesday, Nov. 8, following 11:45 a.m. Mass.
- Radio Paz 830AM, "Fe y Esperanza" program of the Detention Ministry, Wednesday, Nov. 8, prayer vigil on air 2-3 p.m.
- St. Dismas Outreach Center, at St. Robert Bellarmine Mission, 2640 N.W. 34th St., Miami, Wednesday, Nov. 8, prayer vigil 5-6 p.m.
- St. Dismas Outreach Center, at St. Joseph Haitian Mission, 1210 N.W. Sixth Ave., Pompano Beach, Wednesday, Nov. 8, prayer vigil 5-6 p.m.
- Prayer vigil in front of the Monroe County Courthouse, on the corner of Whitehead and Southard Streets, Key West, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 5-6 p.m.
