PO Box 13285 Austin, TX 78711 1600 N. Congress Ave., Suite B (512) 339-9882 Fax: (512) 339-8670 www.TXcatholic.org
August 3, 2016 The Honorable Greg Abbott Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
Governor’s Office
Clemency Section P.O. Box 12428 8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78711 Austin, Texas 78758 Re: Jeff Wood, TDCJ # 999256 Dear Governor Abbott and Board Members, On behalf of the sixteen Roman Catholic Bishops across the state of Texas, the Texas Catholic Conference urges you to grant a stay of execution for Mr. Jeff Wood, who is currently scheduled for execution on August 24. As you know, the Catholic Church does not believe the use of the death penalty is needed in our society. We have tremendous sympathy for the family of Mr. Kriss Keeran and in no way wish to diminish the suffering they have endured as a result of his death. But our faith tradition, and the precedent set forth by the Kenneth Foster case in 2007, compel us to ask for mercy for Jeff Wood. Our Church fully believes that those who commit terrible, violent crimes must be incarcerated, both as just punishment and in order to protect society. We stand in solidarity with victims and their loved ones. However, when it comes to matters of life and death, we must make every effort to conform our actions to the requirements of both justice and mercy. Mr. Wood has never taken a human life by his own hands. He was not even in the building at the time of the crime. It is extremely rare for any person in the history of the modern death penalty to have been executed with as little culpability and participation in the taking of a life as Mr. Wood. His original sentencing hearing was prejudiced by the false and perjured testimony of the discredited psychiatrist Dr. James Grigson. The jury also did not hear
evidence that might have caused it to spare Mr. Wood’s life. Due to mental illness
, which should have rendered him incompetent to stand trial, Mr. Wood instructed his attorneys not to present any evidence on his behalf or cross-examine witnesses. There is also no doubt that Danny Reneau, who has already been executed, was the shooter in this case. Taking the life of Jeff Wood will not further justice nor will it bring a sense of security to our community or the family of Kriss Keeran. In fact, it is
my understanding that Charles Keeran, Kris’ father, has asked that the state of
Texas not execu
te Mr. Wood because “no man ever deserves to die for another man’s acts.”
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that a true neighbor shows mercy (Luke 10:37). Mercy does not require us to neglect justice in the
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEMBERS Daniel Cardinal DiNardo ARCHBISHOP OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS ARCHBISHOP OF SAN ANTONIO Patrick J. Zurek BISHOP OF AMARILLO Joe S. Vásquez BISHOP OF AUSTIN Curtis. J. Guillory, S.V.D. BISHOP OF BEAUMONT Daniel E. Flores BISHOP OF BROWNSVILLE W. Michael Mulvey BISHOP OF CORPUS CHRISTI Kevin J. Farrell BISHOP OF DALLAS Mark J. Seitz BISHOP OF EL PASO Michael F. Olson BISHOP OF FORT WORTH James A. Tamayo BISHOP OF LAREDO Plácido Rodríguez, C.M.F. BISHOP OF LUBBOCK Steven J. Lopes BISHOP OF PERSONAL ORDINARIATE OF THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER Michael J. Sis BISHOP OF SAN ANGELO Joseph E. Strickland BISHOP OF TYLER Brendan Cahill BISHOP OF VICTORIA
CONSULTATIVE MEMBERS
ALL OTHER TEXAS BISHOPS Jennifer Carr Allmon EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PO Box 13285 Austin, TX 78711 1600 N. Congress Ave., Suite B (512) 339-9882 Fax: (512) 339-8670 www.TXcatholic.org
enforcement of law or the maintenance of order. Nonetheless, in the case of Jeff Wood, justice itself moves us to request a stay of execution. Moreover, mercy moves us to exhibit compassion toward all of our brothers and sisters by providing them with an opportunity for atonement and rehabilitation. Therefore, we continue to pray for each individual that has been touched by this tragic case. And, because of our conviction that divine mercy ultimately triumphs over human sin, we urge you to grant a stay of execution. Yours in Christ, Jennifer Carr Allmon Executive Director
