NEW: State Council of Churches Supports Chafee's Decision to Appeal Pleau Ruling

NEW: State Council of Churches Supports Chafee's Decision to Appeal Pleau Ruling

The Rhode Island State Council of Churches announced its support of Governor Chafee’s decision to appeal the recent court ruling that forces the state to turn over Jason Pleau to federal authorities.

Rev. Dr. Don Anderson released the following statement:

"We remain strongly opposed to the death penalty as a matter of moral principle. We believe it to be an affront to God and dehumanizing for society as whole. … Our opposition to the death penalty is intended as an affirmation of the sacredness of human life and as an appeal to all for greater individual and societal efforts for a more humane and just society."

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Chafee announced his plans to appeal the decision last week.