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

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.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.