It is expected that the South Dakota Legislature will consider legislation during the 2014 legislative session to repeal the death penalty. In 2012 we, the Roman Catholic Bishops of the Dioceses of Rapid City and Sioux Falls issued a statement on the Death Penalty. With slight modification to reflect the time, we re-issue it for the consideration of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of our government, its teaching being timeless. As we have previously encouraged, it is a time for us to prayerfully reflect on the role of the state as an agent of death.