News

WCC requests clemency for a US minor sentenced to life in prison

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, appealed to the governor of Florida (USA), Jeb Bush, to exercise clemency in the case of Lionel Tate, who on March 9th, 2001, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a crime committed when he was 12 years old. Raiser endorsed a similar request from Anglican bishops of the Episcopal Church in Florida, and pointed out that the punishment "is not only harsh but also fails to take into consideration his tender age".

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16 April 2003

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, appealed to the governor of Florida (USA), Jeb Bush, to exercise clemency in the case of Lionel Tate, who on March 9th, 2001, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a crime committed when he was 12 years old. Raiser endorsed a similar request from Anglican bishops of the Episcopal Church in Florida, and pointed out that the punishment "is not only harsh but also fails to take into consideration his tender age".

See the letter at:

www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/news/int-affairs/tate-letter.html