EWTN.com - Catholic Leaders Praise Illinois Governor For Ending Death Penalty: "After weeks of indecision, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a landmark bill on March 9, abolishing the death penalty in the state. Catholic officials praised the move as helping advance a culture of life in Illinois.
By signing Senate Bill 3539, Gov. Quinn makes Illinois the 16th state in the U.S. to repeal capital punishment. The new legislation will take effect in the state on July 1.
Gov. Quinn also commuted the death sentences of all 15 prisoners on the state's Death Row.
Catholics campaigning for Gov. Quinn's approval of the legislation lauded the move on Wednesday.
'The end of the use of the death penalty advances the development of a culture of life in our state,' read a March 9 statement from the Illinois Catholic Conference.
The conference - which had actively promoted the legislation - commended Gov. Quinn, and said that capital punishment was no longer needed to protect Illinois citizens.
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