Respect Life Month Toolkit
The death penalty is a life issue. Explore resources and opportunities below to engage in death penalty education, advocacy, and prayer.
What is Respect Life Month?
October is Respect Life Month, a time for Catholics to reflect more deeply on the God-given dignity of all human life. During this month, Catholics across the United States will recommit themselves to the work of uplifting this core tenet of our faith: the belief that every life is sacred.
The death penalty falls squarely on the continuum of life issues. Taking the life of any person — innocent or guilty — is an affront to the sanctity of life. The reality is, however, that many people don’t consider the death penalty as a pro-life issue, nor is it frequently included in pro-life advocacy. This respect life month, we challenge you to bravely speak up about capital punishment through the lens of your faith and the defense of the dignity of life.
Below, you’ll find a collection of resources to assist you in including death penalty education, advocacy, and prayer in your efforts to build a culture of life. These resources are intended for parishes, dioceses, and all individuals.
“All of human life is sacred. The right to life is absolutely fundamental. No one has a right to directly take the life of another. No one has a right to devalue another. No one has a right to say which lives are worth saving, worth living, and which lives are not.”
Most Rev. Michael f. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington
PRAYER
Our work is informed and inspired by our faith. Guided by Gospel wisdom and Catholic Social Teaching, the transformative power of prayer is at the heart of all that we do. Consider these opportunities to incorporate prayer for those on death row and those impacted by the death penalty throughout Respect Life Month.
Novena to End the Death Penalty
CMN prays the Novena to End the death penalty each year for the first nine days of Respect Life Month, leading to World Day Against the Death Penalty, celebrated on October 10.
Pray along with us, or invite your parish, congregation, or school community to commit to praying the Novena together. You can download the full nine days of prayer or sign up to receive a daily prayer email.
Sample Prayers of the Faithful
Bring these petitions to a Mass or prayer service in your parish, ministry, or community.
Guided Holy Hour for an End to the Death Penalty
Dedicate an hour of personal prayer or lead a group in this service to pray for the defense of life.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Prayer Service
Reflect on the life and ministry of St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv., patron saint of prisoners, families, and the pro-life movement. Lifting up the work of all pro-life advocates, this prayer service highlights in a particular way our shared Catholic call to end the use of the death penalty.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv. was executed by lethal injection in the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, after sacrificing his own life for a young father.
A Collection of Short Prayers in the Face of Executions
A Prayer for Life; by Bishop Daniel Flores
God Eternal Father,
You are the Living God.
Life is who you are,
Life is what you love,
Life is what you breathe.
Creation was made to house life; life is what you give.
Human life is your most beloved,
And what You most affirmed when you sent your Eternal Son
To take flesh,
To die our death,
And to rise again glorious.
Help us to be a people of life –
A church that can do no other
Than love what you so mightily love,
And defend what your Son so willingly died and rose to defend.
Amen.
CMN’s First Friday Prayer Vigil
CMN gathers every month to lament upcoming executions and pray for every person impacted by capital punishment. Join us for our Respect Life Month vigil on Friday, October 3 at 2 p.m. ET. And, join us all year long on the first Friday of every month.
EDUCATION
Knowledge and truth-telling are key to transforming broken systems. We offer innovative educational opportunities that foster a deep understanding of the Church’s anti-death penalty teachings. Explore the following resources to support your personal education this Respect Life Month, or to share with your parish, ministry, or school community.
Fact Sheet: The Death Penalty in the United States
An overview of the current status of the U.S. system of capital punishment and several of the grave injustices of this practice which disregards the sanctity of life.
What does the Church teach about the death penalty?
The Catholic Catechism boldly states that the death penalty is “inadmissible” in all cases. This teaching follows a legacy of Church leadership that has moved the needle away from support for the death penalty.
CMN’s Book List
Explore books about the death penalty and restorative justice that you could personally commit to reading this Respect Life Month. Or, invite members of your community or parish to join you in a book club.
Tips for Preaching About the Death Penalty
This resource is designed for bishops, priests, and deacons who wish to connect the Church’s teaching against the death penalty to Scripture in a homily.
This Respect Life Month, share this resource with a priest or deacon in your parish.
CMN’s Educational Videos
Explore these short videos to encounter personal stories of those who have been personally impacted by the death penalty, crime, and violence. Learn more about the death penalty through the lens of our faith with these videos featuring Pope Francis and the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe, patron saint of the pro-life movement. And watch CMN’s most recent death penalty educational webinar, hosted in June 2025.
ADVOCACY
Our advocacy empowers people of faith to stand against upcoming executions and promote life-affirming approaches to justice. Learn more about the importance of advocacy and explore opportunities to take action during Respect Life Month.
The Importance of Catholic Advocacy
In the United States, where dozens of execution dates are scheduled each year, it’s crucial for Catholics to stand together as advocates against these threats to human life. Representing 22% of the U.S. population, Catholics hold significant moral influence capable of rousing public opposition to upcoming executions and even swaying legal outcomes in capital cases.
Simply put, Catholic pro-life witness has the potential to halt executions and save lives. That’s why we’re harnessing the power of Catholic advocacy to speak out against every impending execution in the United States.
You can be an advocate for mercy! Every month, we’ll send you timely advocacy actions, keeping you informed about upcoming cases that need your urgent attention. Subscribers are invited to write letters directly to those in positions of power who are capable of halting upcoming executions.
What is Clemency? And how is it granted?
When someone is granted clemency, their sentence is either reduced or they are granted a total pardon.
For many people on death row, the request for clemency is to reduce their sentence from the death penalty to life in prison without the chance of parole. Applying for clemency is often one of the last efforts someone facing execution can make to spare their life, even after all appeals have been exhausted.
The procedures for granting clemency vary by state. Generally, an application for clemency will first go to a board of pardons and paroles. The board’s decision will then be referred to a governor.
Clemency is not frequently granted in capital cases. On the occasions that it is, it is typically because of mental illness, poor legal representation, or possibility of wrongful conviction.
State-Specific Actions
In addition to opposing all executions, CMN engages in state-specific advocacy work to reject expansions to capital punishment and to support all efforts to limit, repeal, or abolish the use of the practice.
When you sign up for advocacy alerts and provide CMN with your address, we can send you targeted, state-specific advocacy opportunities.
Don’t Wait: Help Stop an Execution Now
There are people scheduled for execution who need your advocacy. Take action now to stop these acts of state-sanctioned violence.
STOP the Execution of Ralph Menzies
Please contact the Utah Board of Pardons and Paroles urging them to recommend clemency for Ralph Menzies. Utah intends to execute Ralph Menzies on September 5, 2025 for the 1986 murder of Maruine Hunsaker. We oppose this execution as we do every execution. Capital punishment is an act of state sanctioned violence that violates the…STOP the Execution of Curtis Windom
Please contact Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency urging them to grant clemency to Curtis Windom, and stop his execution. Florida intends to execute Curtis Windom on August 28 for the 1992 murders of Johnnie Lee, Valerie Davis, and Mary Lubin. We oppose this execution as we do every execution. Capital…Become an Advocate for Mercy
CMN’s Mercy in Action Project gives YOU the tools you need to promote clemency for those on death row. Sign up today to start receiving monthly execution alerts.
Help CMN end the death penalty
Join our community to educate, advocate, and pray for abolition.