Father Gerry Kleba, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, served as Johnson’s spiritual adviser and was present with him during his death. Father Kleba confirmed Johnson and brought him Communion frequently over the past month.

“I told him, ‘I’m Simon of Cyrene — I go the last mile of the way with you,’” Father Kleba said on the morning of Aug. 1.

Prior to the execution, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on behalf of Pope Francis, sent a letter to Gov. Mike Parson requesting clemency for Johnson. “Our thoughts and prayers for (Casey) and her family must certainly be foremost in our minds as Aug. 1 approaches,” the letter said. “Nevertheless, Governor, the Holy Father appeals to you for clemency on behalf of Mr. Johnson solely on the basis of his, and our own shared humanity.”

“Our faith teaches us that every human life is made in the image and likeness of God,” the nuncio’s letter continued. “Our challenge is to honor this sacred gift of life from the Creator, even when it is difficult to do so, and even if Mr. Johnson has not honored the life of Casey.”

The Missouri Catholic Conference had also submitted a letter to Gov. Parson requesting clemency. The letter, signed by all five Missouri bishops and other faith and civic leaders, noted Johnson’s “severe mental issues” and stated, “Casey’s death is a tragedy, but the execution of Mr. Johnson, rather than acting as a salve to the victim’s bereaved loved ones, would be a new tragedy of its own.”

“Looking beyond this particular case, as religious and civic leaders we are also concerned that the use of the death penalty promotes revenge as a principle of criminal justice. As imperfect human beings, the Grace of God is not something we receive because we deserve it; rather, it is something He gives to us freely as an act of mercy,” the letter said.

Johnson was the fourth person executed in Missouri and the 16th in the nation this year. Missouri is one of five states to put people to death this year, alongside Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Twelve people remain on Missouri’s death row.

What can I do to help end the death penalty in Missouri?

1. Pray. Both personal and communal liturgical prayer are sources of spiritual strength for living out the pro-life commitment to which the Gospel calls us. Our prayer is often a source of strength for others as well, particularly as we pray for those to be executed, their families, the victims and the victims’ families.

2. Sign clemency petitions for those facing imminent execution. Clemency petitions can be found on the Missourians to Abolish to the Death Penalty website: madpmo.org/clemencycampaigns

3. Contact your state senator and representative and ask them to abolish the death penalty in Missouri. Find information about senators and representatives here: house.mo.gov/legislatorlookup.aspx

4. Support Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty and the Catholic Mobilizing Network, the national Catholic effort to end the death penalty: madpmo.org and catholicsmobilizing.org.

5. Join the archdiocesan Office of Peace & Justice to participate in a prayer vigil outside the Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre during an execution.

Church teaching on the death penalty (updated 2018)

Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good.

Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.

Consequently, the Church teaches, in light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person,” and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267