Archbishop Vásquez's commitment to life

Both as a bishop and a priest, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez has made clear the call of Jesus to love thy neighbor as thyself.

Sister Heloise Cruzat, O.P., who served as vicar for religious for the Archdiocese from 2005 to 2018, recalls always feeling like a “welcome colleague” of Archbishop Vásquez when he served as auxiliary bishop in Galveston-Houston.

“How fortunate we are to welcome a native Texan as its shepherd,” she said. “Archbishop Vásquez has the heart of a faithful shepherd, with profound belief in the dignity of each person, welcoming and accompanying each and all. His episcopal leadership is proven, and his experience with Catholic Relief Services and with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network — CLINIC — calls me to deep hope that during so many challenges to our Catholic beliefs, we are welcoming a servant leader who will be effective in guiding us to Gospel fidelity.”

In Austin, Archbishop Vásquez was a regular visible witness to choosing life, most recently giving the invocation at the 2025 Texas Rally for Life. He worked with the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops in Austin to advocate for legislation that sought the protection of life at all stages, from conception to natural death. Now in Galveston-Houston, Archbishop Vásquez oversees an Archdiocese that is unfortunate home to the State of Texas execution chamber in Huntsville.

In 2022, in collaboration with the Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), Archbishop Vásquez and Brownsville Bishop Daniel Flores made public to call off the execution of Melissa Lucio, a Catholic Texas woman who was wrongfully convicted for the tragic death of her young daughter.

Archbishop Vásquez said, “We are created in God’s image. And as such, we must commit to protecting every human being and caring for their soul. The execution of Melissa Lucio would be a tragedy. Members of her own family, especially her children, are pleading for Melissa’s life to be spared. Our faith teaches us that our response must be rooted in justice and mercy.”

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, CMN executive director, said, “The reality of our work in advocating for an end to the death penalty is that we are often surrounded by the presence of death. But, with the strong support of the Catholic faithful and our Church leadership, particularly Archbishop Vásquez, Melissa’s case was one where life won over death! I’m so grateful to have shared in this experience and committed advocacy with Archbishop Vásquez.”

Lucio’s execution was stayed just days before she was set to die in Huntsville. These calls for her freedom, according to Vaillancourt Murphy, set in motion a series of events that advocates hope will lead to Lucio’s release.

“The Texas Catholic bishops have consistently been leaders in speaking out against the death penalty,” Vaillancourt Murphy said. “This kind of pastoral leadership, especially in a place where the death penalty is alive and active, is critical.”

Then, in 2023, CMN also worked with Archbishop Vásquez and the Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition. Archbishop Vásquez celebrated Mass among women who were on death row in Texas at the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville near Waco.

The Mass was livestreamed, “and individuals around the country watched virtually, was an experience of prayer I’ll never forget. It couldn’t have happened without Archbishop Vásquez,” Vaillancourt Murphy said.

Many faith advocates look to the Archdiocese as a model of citizenship and collaboration, including Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, who chairs CLINIC’s board of directors.

“The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston embraces people from around the world,” he said. “The diverse fabric of cultural and faith expressions pulsates with fervent faith and bountiful portions of neighborly kindness. These characteristically Houstonian qualities now extend a strong abrazo (a hug) to their new Archbishop, Joe Vásquez.”

In tandem with CLINIC’s efforts, Archbishop Vásquez chaired the U.S. bishops conference’s Committee on Migration from 2016 to 2019.

He shared a clear voice of the U.S. bishops’ calling for comprehensive immigration reform that advances the common good, imploring executive and congressional leaders to work together to create a border solution.