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Episcopal Bishops Join Catholics In Opposition To Death Penalty For Boston Bomber

Episcopal Bishops Join Catholics In Opposition To Death Penalty For Boston Bomber
Associated Press
In this courtroom sketch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aloke Chakravarty is depicted pointing to defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, right, during closing arguments in Tsarnaev's federal death penalty trial Monday, April 6, 2015, in Boston. Tsarnaev is charged with conspiring with his brother to place two bombs near the Boston Marathon finish line in April 2013, killing three and injuring 260 people. (AP Photo/Jane Flavell Collins)
In this courtroom sketch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aloke Chakravarty is depicted pointing to defendant Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, right, during closing arguments in Tsarnaev's federal death penalty trial Monday, April 6, 2015, in Boston. Tsarnaev is charged with conspiring with his brother to place two bombs near the Boston Marathon finish line in April 2013, killing three and injuring 260 people. (AP Photo/Jane Flavell Collins)

Massachusetts' Episcopal Church bishops, like their Roman Catholic counterparts, say they're opposed to the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehvz.)

The bishops issued a statement Thursday saying they're praying for all those affected by the 2013 bombings, including the victims' families and those involved in bringing Tsarnaev to justice.

They reaffirmed their opposition to capital punishment - a position the Episcopal Church has held since 1958.

The bishops' statement calls the bombings "repugnant and morally inexcusable." But it calls the death penalty "an unjustified violation of the prohibition against taking a human life."

Massachusetts' Catholic bishops issued a similar statement this month.

The family of an 8-year-old boy who died in the bombings has also spoken out against capital punishment for Tsarnaev.

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Death Penaltyboston bombingBoston Marathon BombingEpiscopal Church dzokhar tsarnaev

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