Since 1976, when U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty, 1,567 people have been put to death in the U.S, according to CNN. There was strong evidence of innocence in 20 of those cases. Texas executed 10 of those inmates.
Next one up: Ivan Cantu. Texas will execute Cantu tomorrow at 6 p.m. He will die in spite of “strong new evidence” that he did not murder his cousin and his cousin’s fiancée in 2000. According to Newsweek, no court has agreed to review the new evidence. Newsweek also reported that “key witnesses have recanted their testimony…”
By last Friday, Feb. 23, more than 100,000 people had signed a petition demanding that the Texas’ Collin County District Attorney, Greg Willis, stop Cantu’s execution because of “new evidence “ just disclosed by his own office.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has rejected Cantu’s latest efforts to have his innocence claims heard. It ruled Cantu had “abused” the post-conviction process, leaving him without a remedy. Yet, the Texas Tribune has reported “a key witness in the case admitted he lied” and that “multiple jurors in Cantu’s original trial have said “they don’t support execution” in his case, warranting, at the very least, a new trial in his case.
If there’s new evidence in a death row inmate’s case, he or she should absolutely receive a new trial to avoid killing an innocent person. At least 196 death row inmates in this country escaped death after being exonerated.
The death penalty is a hot-button topic — morally, legally and politically. Honest debate about it is crucial. Imagine, if you can, being strapped to a gurney before your scheduled execution, having to wait an hour for that final moment — all the while knowing that you did not commit the crime for which you are about to be put to death.
That is what the State of Texas is about to do to Ivan Cantu. And it begs the question. Why do we have the death penalty? It is not Christian.
Jesus preached forgiveness. He taught that “…If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Mt 6:14) Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, and Jesus replied, Seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22) a number to be taken symbolically, not literally, for the never ending way that we ought to forgive,” all that according to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
God sent his “only begotten son” to deliver the message of forgiveness and redemption. Jesus’ message appeals to the better angels in our souls — the angels of forgiveness and mercy.
That is the message that should be heard in the Ivan Cantu case. Has Texas become so callous that it no longer let a man’s pleas of innocence be heard?
Otherwise, our state risks murdering an innocent man.
Jodie Sinclair is an award-winning writer who holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and resides in Bandera, Texas.
