Prayer & Action on the Death Penalty

Did you know...

• The US is the only Western democracy that continues to use the death penalty.
• The US, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia account for over 80% of executions worldwide.
• Approximately 3,500 inmates are on death row in 38 state and federal prisons.
• Since 1973 more than 100 death row inmates have been exonerated.
• Since 1973 at least 23 innocent people have been mistakenly executed, and later proven innocent.
• Recent Supreme Court decisions have limited the use of the death penalty against persons with mental retardation and juveniles under age 18.

The US Catholic Bishops have been calling for an end to the Death Penalty since 1980. You can read their statements here if you want more info. To quote the Bishops:

“Respect for all human life and opposition to the violence in our society are at the root of our long-standing position against the death penalty… including the lives of those who fail to show that respect for others. The antidote to violence is love not more violence.” (USCCB “A Good Friday appeal to end the Death Penalty” c.1999)

The State of Washington - where I am now living - is scheduled to kill one of the men on Death Row on December 3rd. I just received an action alert from the Archdiocese asking folks to contact the Governor. If you live in Washington State and would like to to take action against the death penalty, read below. If you do not live in Washington State, please join me in praying both for an end to the death penalty and for the victims of violent crimes.

Write Governor Gregoire to Stop the Execution of Darold Stenson
Washington State is planning to execute Darold Stenson on Dec. 3, 2008. Please contact Gov. Gregoire and ask her to commute his sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Honorable Christine Gregoire
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Fax: 360-753-4110
Phone: 360-902-4111
Email: www.governor.wa.gov/contact