Current News Events

Bishop Emeritus William L. Higi, the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, passed from his life peacefully on January 3, 2025, at the age of 91. The Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana has been blessed tremendously with his dedication to serving and leading the people of the diocese and beyond—a true shepherd of Christ.  He was a priest of Jesus Christ for 65 years.

The Rite of Reception of the Body will take place at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 1207 Columbia St. in Lafayette, Ind., at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Visitation will take place from 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. with Evening Prayer at 7 p.m., concluding at 8 p.m.

On Friday, January 10, 2025, visitation will resume from 9 a.m.-10:45 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral. While all liturgies are open to the public, the Funeral Mass will also be livestreamed on St. Mary's You Tube Channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@saintmarycathedrallafayett6404

By Nicole Hahn
Editor of Today's Catholic

Indiana State Representative Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne) officially filed legislation on Thursday, December 5, to repeal the state law regarding the imposition and execution of death sentences. He wants the law to change to state specifically that if a person is sentenced to death and is awaiting execution of that death sentence, that person’s death sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Ultimately, Morris wants it to be state law that there is no possibility to sentence a person to death.

Morris also wrote a letter to Governor Eric Holcomb asking to delay the execution of any inmate on death row at least until January, when state lawmakers return to session and the General Assembly can consider his proposed legislation. Though the proposed legislation isn’t specific to any particular case, the timing is important because Indiana is set to perform its first execution in 15 years on Wednesday, December 18. 

Joseph Corcoran, now 49, was convicted in 1997 of the murders of his brother, his sister’s fiancé, and two of their friends at his home in Fort Wayne. He was sentenced to death in 1999 and has been on death row since that time. Lawyers have continued to fight for a stay of execution. On Friday, December 6, according to public records on mycase.in.gov, the Indiana Supreme Court denied a motion to stay Corcoran’s execution. Records also indicate that a second motion was filed with the court the same day of the denial. On Monday, December 9, records show the Indiana Supreme Court issued its response, concluding the court should deny the second motion to stay the execution. At the time of this writing, the execution of Joseph Corcoran stands to take place on December 18.

Morris admitted he has had a change of heart about the death penalty throughout the past few years.

“I think it’s who I am,” Morris told Today’s Catholic. “Christ made me, and being a God-fearing person and the way my parents raised me, it's something that being a legislator … and how Christ created me, and feeling very compelled … I've been trying to educate my fellow colleagues on where I'm at with ending capital punishment.” 

Morris reached out to Bishop Rhoades for his counsel about the letter and about his change of heart.

“He and I have a good relationship,” Morris said. “So, I heard from Bishop Rhoades and the Catholic Conference of Bishops, and they are 100 percent behind me in the message and the mission,” Morris said. He added that he also has the backing of the Indiana Catholic Conference.

He told Today’s Catholic a story about one incident that affected him in this journey.

“It's a Holy Spirit moment,” Morris said. “A good friend of the family, they lost a son, and Bishop Rhoades did the funeral and said during the petitions to pray for government leaders as they stand for life. So that, and hearing the word, hearing the homily, hearing the message, hearing the bishop’s words at the funeral … at that time really affected me. So, I'm carrying forward, pressing on. So that was maybe six, seven weeks ago.”

Morris also talked about how executions don’t just affect the person being executed.

“You know, it's just not one life,” Morris said. “There's a number of other lives that are being affected at our prisons as well. Think of the employees and the fact that they have to be a part of this act of execution and how it affects them. So, they can all appear like they’re good until you look at it and step back. That's someone's dad, someone's brother, someone's sister, so the people on the execution team are struggling in their own way.”

At the heart of it, Morris said, “I am living my faith, and I am standing for people and doing what I feel is the right thing to do.”

Morris still has hope that Governor Holcomb will stay executions until the legislation can be taken up in session in January.

Morris gave Today’s Catholic a copy of the letter he wrote to the governor detailing his former stance on capital punishment and his change of heart based on his faith, saying, “I believe only one position honors Our Lord and Savior, our Creator: to protect all human life.”

Read the full letter below.

By Natalie Hoefer
The Criterion

With Indiana’s first state execution in 15 years scheduled for Dec. 18, the Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is already working to promote legislation for the 2025 General Assembly—set to begin on Jan. 8—that would eradicate the death penalty in Indiana.

Indiana Rep. Bob Morris (District 84) “will file a full death penalty repeal bill that will have the option of life without parole,” says Alexander Mingus, executive director of the ICC, which serves as the public policy voice for the Church in Indiana. Morris, a Catholic, designed the bill to adhere to Church teaching, which opposes the death penalty. 

“Our effort now is to determine the appetite in the House for looking at a bill like this,” says Mingus. 

He notes that there have been only two bills related to the death penalty proposed in the last decade—one in 2017 to create a mental illness exception, and one in 2021 to reserve the sentence to cases of multiple murders or the death of a police officer. 

“Neither bill went anywhere,” says Mingus. “So, we don’t have a full picture of where current legislators stand on the death penalty because there’s no voting record. And there’s not much on record for how someone feels on the death penalty.” 

To identify where state legislators side on this issue, he says the ICC is “working with partner organizations,” including the Indiana Public Defense Council and the Indiana Abolition Coalition, as well as national groups like Catholic Mobilizing Network and Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. 

“It’s still early in the process,” says Mingus. “But this is going to be a topic we’ll be hitting pretty hard this year for a number of reasons.”
 
‘The death penalty is not the solution’
One of those reasons is the Church’s opposition to capital punishment.

Prior to 2018, the Church allowed for the death penalty in extreme circumstances for the protection of others, as outlined in #2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

In 2018, Pope Francis issued a change to #2267—and to the Church’s stance on capital punishment. 

All death penalty was declared inadmissible because “the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes” and “… 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.” 

The change was not based on the current pontiff’s judgment alone. 

“Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis have argued against the use of capital punishment, pointing out the security of modern prison systems as well as the impact of capital punishment on society and humanity,” says Archbishop Charles C. Thompson.

“Pope Francis has used words like ‘inadmissible,’ ‘contrary to the Gospel,’ ‘an attack on the dignity of the human person,’ ‘fostering vengeance rather than justice’ and ‘a poison for society’ in describing the death penalty.

“While our first concern is for victims and their families, as well as protection for all those in society, the death penalty is not the solution. It cannot bring back loved ones, heal wounds of loss or bring justice to the victims.”

Archbishop Thompson also notes the negative impact of capital punishment on prison personnel, witnesses and families.

“Violence often begets more violence, whether criminal or regulated,” he says.  “We are better than this.”

Another reason both the archbishop and Mingus cite as a reason for seeking an end to capital punishment is the possibility of executing an innocent person.

According to Death Penalty Information Center’s online Innocence Database, 200 exonerations of those on death row have occurred in the United States since 1973.

“That’s a scary thing to think that you could find innocent people on death row who could be executed,” says Mingus.
 
Added urgency as state executions set to resume
The reasons for seeking an end to the death penalty cited above are timeless. 

A more pressing issue for the ICC to promote a bill eradicating capital punishment in Indiana (while allowing life without parole) is the June 26 announcement by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita of the resumption of the death penalty in Indiana. (Read the ICC’s response on behalf of the five Indiana bishops at www.indianacc.org/bishopsstatements.)

While several federal executions took place at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute in 2020, the last state-ordered execution occurred in 2009.
In a Dec. 11, 2019, Indianapolis Star article, the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) stated the reason for the hiatus was “the result of business decisions by pharmaceutical suppliers who now decline purchase requests” from the agency. 

The supply issue recently changed. The June 26 statement noted the DOC’s acquisition of the drug pentobarbital for carrying out executions.

“Accordingly, I am fulfilling my duties as governor to follow the law and move forward appropriately in this matter,” Gov. Holcomb said in the statement, posted on events.in.gov. 

On Sept. 24, the Indiana Supreme Court set a date for the first of the executions. Joseph Corcoran—a Fort Wayne, Ind., man convicted in 1997 of murdering four people, including his brother—is set to be executed on Dec. 18 at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. 
Corcoran’s attorneys filed a motion with the Indiana Supreme Court on Nov. 15 for a stay of execution due to Corcoran’s struggle with mental illness, according to the case summary at public.courts.in.gov.

“For virtually his entire life, Mr. Corcoran has been plagued by symptoms of psychosis and cognitive dysfunction,” the motion states. “These symptoms continue to this day, and numerous mental health experts have diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia or precursors to the schizophrenic diagnosis.” 

The filing also notes “colorable evidence” that, due to his schizophrenia, both the conviction of and carrying through with Corcoran’s execution violate the federal and state constitutions’ prohibition of “cruel and unusual punishment.” 

State attorneys on the case were given a deadline of Nov. 26 to reply to the motion.   Corcoran’s attorneys had until Dec. 3 to respond to the state’s reply. The Indiana Supreme Court will review both responses, although no date has been announced as to when they will issue a ruling.
 
‘We’re praying for hearts to be moved’
Regardless of the outcome, the state’s resumption of executions adds urgency to the ICC’s efforts to promote legislation in the upcoming General Assembly that would abolish the death penalty in Indiana.

Governor-elect and current U.S. senator Mike Braun has not issued comments regarding the resumption of state executions. Nor do his gubernatorial campaign or senate websites state his view on capital punishment.

However, according to Braun’s comments in an April 19 Indiana Capital Chronicle article, he does support the death penalty “for those guilty of the most heinous of crimes.”  

Mingus says those involved in efforts to repeal Indiana’s death penalty are praying.

“We’re praying for hearts to be moved—of our current governor, our new governor and our legislators; for them to turn it over in their mind if this is something they’re OK with the state doing; and for them to consider the fundamental question: Can the death penalty be justly administered in our current context?

“We say no.”
 
(To ask Gov. Holcomb to stop the execution of Joseph Corcoran, go to cutt.ly/StopCorcoranExecution.) 

• We ask graces for the people of our country, that they reinforce their hunger for non-violence with their prayers, we pray to the Lord:

• May God strengthen the protection and safety for all men and women running for public office, and those who strive to keep them safe, we pray to the Lord:

• May each of us, as good citizens and faithful Christians, be strong in our respectful participation in political processes, we pray to the Lord:

• For the healing of those who were injured in the recent shootings at Butler, Pennsylvania, and for those who have died, we pray to the Lord:

On behalf of the five Catholic dioceses in the state of Indiana, the Indiana Catholic Conference is strongly opposed to the decision to seek the resumption of executions in Indiana as recently announced by the Indiana Governor and Attorney General.

A Consistent Ethic of Life

The Catholic Church has consistently sought to protect human life from conception to natural death. As Pope Saint John Paul II reminded us in 1999, “the new evangelization calls us to be unconditionally pro-life,” and that “modern society has the means of protecting itself without definitely denying criminals the chance to reform.” More recently, Pope Francis emphasized the Church’s opposition to the death penalty in a change to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” (CCC 2267)

We are grateful for Indiana’s commitment to protecting human life, particularly for the preborn. However, the Church holds that human dignity is also offended when the state’s punishment takes a life. The convicted, the executioner, and society are all harmed when violence is unnecessarily carried out, especially when the penal system can adequately protect the social order from further harm.

Solidarity with Victims

When speaking against the use of the death penalty, the Church is abundantly clear in her expression of solidarity with the family and friends of victims. As the Indiana Catholic Conference expressed in a 2019 letter opposing the end of the federal moratorium on the death penalty: “In seeking to end the use of the death penalty, we do not dismiss the evil and harm caused by people who commit horrible crimes, especially murder. We share in the sorrow and loss of families and victims of such crimes. And we call upon our faith community and all persons of good will to stand with the victims and to provide spiritual, pastoral and personal support.”

Indiana Should Eliminate Use of the Death Penalty

In addition to the Church’s moral teaching, there are several compelling reasons for Indiana to forego the use of the death penalty: 1) there are other means of protecting society and punishing criminals, 2) the death penalty demonstrably does not deter crime, 3) its application is flawed and can be irreversibly wrong, 4) death penalty cases are extremely expensive compared to other criminal cases, and 5) twenty-nine states no longer use it as a form of punishment.

The ICC’s Appeal to the Indiana General Assembly, Governor, and Attorney General

The Indiana Catholic Conference calls upon the Attorney General, members of the Indiana General Assembly, and the Governor, respectively, to:

1) Rescind the motion asking the Indiana Supreme Court to set an execution date for Joseph Corcoran.

2) Legislatively repeal the use of the death penalty in Indiana.

3) Remove plans to include a death chamber in the new state prison under construction in Westville, IN.

These actions would bring Indiana closer to implementing a consistent protection of human life and social order through law. We make this appeal alongside a commitment to working with our elected leaders and public officials to continue strengthening the culture of life in our great state.

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USCCB Statement

February 3, 2023

To: All Priests
CC: Directors of Operations, Directors of Evangelization, Pastorate Communicators
From: Bishop Doherty
Subject: March 17, 2023

Dear Priests,

In the season of Lent, we seek to draw closer to our Lord Jesus. We do so through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We also practice abstinence from eating meat on all Fridays of Lent, as well as on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. The law of abstinence binds all those who have attained the age of fourteen (CIC §1252).

Modeling our lives after missionary saints is also central to our Lenten journey. This year, the Memorial of Saint Patrick takes place on March 17 and coincides with a Lenten Friday. It is a feast day of great importance to the faithful and possesses significant cultural and ethnic importance as well. Therefore, I hereby dispense Catholics in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana from the obligations of Lenten fast and abstinence for Friday, March 17, 2023 (CIC §85).

Anyone taking advantage of this dispensation from rules that normally apply to them is asked to pick another day in Lent to observe the penitential practices. I also ask that as we enjoy a festive March 17th meal with family and friends, we be mindful of our brothers and sisters in the world who do not have enough to eat. Please consider a donation to one of the many food pantries in the diocese as another fitting way to commemorate the Memorial of Saint Patrick.

We do penance in imitation of Jesus’ fast of 40 days in the desert, eager to draw nearer to him in love.

In Christ’s peace,
Bishop Timothy Doherty

Read the Spanish translation here.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization presents a correction for understanding Constitutional process and the proper relation of government branches. The Dobbs decision and overturning Roe v. Wade tells us there is no federal constitutional right to abortion on demand. The states are now left to legislate for or against procuring abortion. Some have already done so. While the Supreme Court’s decision offers an important moment for us to bolster life protections for the unborn, it does not end the public debate. We now need to turn our attention to our Indiana state legislators to urge them to enact or preserve sustainable laws to protect the rights of the unborn.

Read the full statement here. Spanish translation here.

A message from the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana:
On Friday, March 11, Father James De Oreo was suspended from public ministry in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. The diocese received allegations of inappropriate conduct with a minor that violates the Essential Norms and the Diocesan Code of Conduct for Clergy. This was reported to Indiana Child Protective Services. A preliminary investigation is ongoing, and precautionary measures are in place according to Canon 1722 of the Code of Canon Law. During the investigation, Father De Oreo should be treated with the presumption of innocence.
If you are aware of any misconduct during Father De Oreo’s ministry as a priest or seminarian, we encourage you to report the incident in the following manner:
1. Make a report to Child Protective Services by calling 800-800-5556 or local law enforcement.
2. Call Jackie Montrie M.A., LMFT, LMHC Victim Assistance Coordinator of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana at (765) 464-4988.
The safety and wellbeing of our children and young people are of the utmost importance. We all share a commitment to be part of the Church’s mission to respect and protect people of every age. We invite you to join us in prayer for the healing guidance of the Holy Spirit on behalf of all who have been victims of abuse.

Un mensaje de la Diócesis de Lafayette-in-Indiana:
El viernes 11 de marzo, el Padre James De Oreo fue suspendido de su ministerio público en la Diócesis de Lafayette-en-Indiana. La diócesis recibió denuncias de conducta inapropiada con una persona menor de edad que quebrantan las Normas Esenciales y el Código Diocesano de Conducta para el Clero. Esto fue informado a los Servicios de Protección Infantil de Indiana. Se encuentra en curso una investigación preliminar y medidas cautelares según el Canon 1722 del Código de Derecho Canónico. Durante la investigación, el Padre De Oreo debe ser tratado con la presunción de inocencia.
Si tiene conocimiento de alguna mala conducta durante el ministerio del Padre De Oreo como Sacerdote o como Seminarista, lo alentamos a que informe el incidente de la siguiente manera:
1. Haga un informe a los Servicios de Protección Infantil llamando al 800-800-5556 o a la policía local.
2. Llame a Jackie Montrie M.A., LMFT, Coordinadora de Asistencia a Víctimas de LMHC de la Diócesis de Lafayette-en-Indiana al (765) 464-4988.
La seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros niños y de nuestros jóvenes son de suma importancia. Todos compartimos el compromiso de ser parte de la misión de la Iglesia de respetar y proteger a las personas de todas las edades. Les invitamos a unirse a nosotros en oración por la guía sanadora del Espíritu Santo en nombre de todos los que han sido víctimas de abuso.

Bishop Doherty statement on the Vatican “McCarrick Report” to be released at 8:00 AM EST on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.

The question of “when” has been asked by bishops and our people for over a year. I have not seen it, nor any summary of its contents as of November 6. No doubt it will be a black eye for the Church, but it is better to know what went wrong. Sin abhors daylight and healing requires light. Theodore McCarrick was dismissed from the clerical state (defrocked) on February 13, 2019. Those who were victimized by McCarrick may receive some consolation as wrongs done to them are acknowledged. Any who may have warned against McCarrick’s advancement will be vindicated.

I will have more to say about the matter after I read the Vatican report. Media sources say that it is quite lengthy. It is part of my role to read what it will contain, but my ongoing disgust with the McCarrick affair means that I am not looking forward to it. It is difficult to overstate the pain and distress that our priests experience from the shock waves radiating from everything relating to McCarrick’s immoral actions. They need our prayerful support.

It is important for you to know that I had no prior knowledge of McCarrick’s reputation for illicit behavior when it came to his abuses of power or his sexual misdeeds.

As I related a year ago at this time, “When news of McCarrick’s evil actions came to light in June of 2018, many Catholics’ first concern was for the integrity of our seminaries. Seminary administrators immediately set to work examining their institutions and re-stating processes to insure the safety of seminarians. Seminarians and their families deserved and received communications about behavioral expectations and any violations of them. This appeared to be underreported only because there were so many events competing for headlines for the rest of that summer and fall.

“Predating the McCarrick revelations, all diocesan clergy and employees, and all volunteers who have contact with minors, sign a code of conduct as part of their required Safe and Sacred Training.”

In addition, by the Fall of 2019, all of our active priests and deacons, me included, signed our Code of Conduct for Clergy of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.

Pointing out all the holy good ministries of the Church at this time might, to some, appear self-serving. But we are well reminded that sin has marred our mission through time, as early as Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial. Even so, grace, holiness and nobility have always shown brightly. These require continual recommitment on our part, and I certainly encourage our personal adherence to these things in our present moment.

Download the full statement here.

The nationwide service has been established to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops for investigation
Lafayette, IN – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops today announced the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting (CBAR) Service has been established to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops, and to relay those reports to proper authorities for investigation. This is the latest measure from Pope Francis’ apostolic letter, Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”) to be implemented.

Read more here...

February 12, 2020

WASHINGTON—Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement regarding the release today of Pope Francis’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Querida Amazonia. The exhortation follows upon the Special Synod of Bishops held in Rome from October 6-27, 2019 that focused on the Amazon region.

Archbishop Gomez’s statement follows:

“Today our Holy Father Pope Francis offers us a hopeful and challenging vision of the future of the Amazon region, one of the earth’s most sensitive and crucial ecosystems, and home to a rich diversity of cultures and peoples. The Pope reminds us that the Church serves humanity by proclaiming Jesus Christ and his Gospel of love, and he calls for an evangelization that respects the identities and histories of the Amazonian peoples and that is open to the ‘novelty of the Spirit, who is always able to create something new with the inexhaustible riches of Jesus Christ.’
 
“He also calls all of us in the Americas and throughout the West to examine our ‘style of life’ and to reflect on the consequences that our decisions have for the environment and for the poor. Along with my brother bishops here in the United States, I am grateful for the Holy Father’s wisdom and guidance and we pledge our continued commitment to evangelizing and building a world that is more just and fraternal and that respects the integrity of God’s creation.”

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