# Bishops urge Tennessee to commute death sentence

> Tennessee’s Catholic and Episcopal Bishops call for Governor Lee to commute Christa Pike’s death sentence after botched execution.
- Title: Bishops urge Tennessee to commute death sentence · Vaticannews
- Summary: Tennessee’s Catholic and Episcopal Bishops call for Governor Lee to commute Christa Pike’s death sentence after botched execution.
- Keywords: tennessee, catholic bishops, episcopal bishops, christa pike, death penalty, commute sentence, executions, governor bill lee, religion, world, Bishops, urge
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-10/usa-tennessee-catholic-episcopal-bishops-christa-pike-execution.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-10-02T07:55:11.113+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tennessee, catholic bishops, episcopal bishops, christa pike, death penalty, commute sentence, executions, governor bill lee, religion, world
## Bishops issue joint appeal
Tennessee’s Catholic Bishops joined US Episcopal Bishops to urge Governor Bill Lee to spare Christa Pike’s life after twice-failed execution.
## Christa Pike’s situation
Christa Pike, 50, survived two doses of lethal injection and was hospitalized after being sentenced to death for 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.
## Governor suspends executions
Governor Bill Lee suspended executions for remainder of 2026 and ordered independent review following botched execution.
## Bishops’ appeal to Governor
Bishops stressed that accountability need not require another death, affirming every human bears God’s image and grave wrongdoing does not erase dignity or possibility of repentance.
## Bishops urge commutation
Bishops welcomed independent review but urged Governor Lee to commute sentence to protect public while preserving Christa Pike’s life without denying justice.
## Catholic Mobilizing Network statement
Catholic Mobilizing Network called on Americans to never accept state-sanctioned killing, noting Christa Pike’s hospitalization and Colleen Slemmer’s family trauma.
## Key takeaway

Tennessee’s Catholic and Episcopal Bishops urged Governor Lee to commute Christa Pike’s death sentence to spare her life after two failed executions.