July 2012

Reverend Michael Carson is pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in the Diocese of San Jose, California, and a member of the State Board of California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty (CPF). 

CMN:
What event in life gave you the passion to work to end the death penalty?

Father Mike:
My involvement with the Capuchin Franciscans and American Friends in Seminary introdcued me to San Quentin and prison ministry. I have been visiting people on death row for 16 years, and they keep me involved.

CMN:
Could you tell us how CPF came to be?

Father Mike:
CPF works very closely with Death Penalty Focus. Fourteen years ago different faith leaders felt we needed an organization especially devoted to the religious community on this issue. We minister through prayer, advocacy and direct contact.

CMN:
What actions are you presently working on?

Father Mike:
We are hosting our first House Party for the SAFE Initiative. We had Bishop Salvatore Cordileone come to speak in our parish. His talk on the Marriage of Abortion and the Death Penalty was a strong message to Catholics. Both issues joined together strengthen the other. Divided they weaken each cause.

CMN:
How are you getting the message out to Spanish speaking Catholics?

Father Mike:
Spanish articles in The Valley Catholic . . . which is our local Diocesan paper, Spanish newspapers, Spanish radio. This issue will be won and lost in the Spanish community. The secular messaging against the death penalty is one of money. It is too expensive. Our Catholic message is [that] the money needs to be used for other things such as solving crimes, helping victims, restorative justice programs such as the Child Development Movement (psychiatric help to prevent abused children from becoming murderers). I volunteer at Juvenile Hall. We are developing a mentoring program for children without fathers. God does not plan for children to grow up to be murderers or commit violent crimes. We need to work to reduce gangs, mentor kids coming out of juvenile programs, and replace their anger and fear through love and compassion.

CMN:
Do you think you have a chance of replacing the death penalty in California?

Father Mike:
Presently 52percent favor the SAFE Campaign. The death penalty was brought in by initiative and so it will have to be replaced by initiative. California has some ten other initiatives on the ballot. We need to educate people to prevent them from going in and just voting “no” to all of them.

CMN:
What is the best way to educate Catholics, English and Spanish speaking?

Father Mike:
Educate the priests. Let them know we have resources available for free and people to do the work. We have speakers bureaus in all three languages (English, Spanish and Vietnamese) It is important for people to hear the voice of victims. Victims of violence can teach us about the process of forgiveness and the importance of not perpetuating the cycle of violence. The death penalty only exists because of fear and anger which is destructive. The stories of victims, prisoners and the exonerated can transform minds and hearts on how love overcomes fear.

CMN:
Restorative Justice is an outreach of the California Catholic Conference. California is way ahead of most Catholic Conferences on this work. Could you explain this transformation in your state?

Father Mike:
At one time we had a jail and prison ministry office in the Diocese of San Jose. A few years ago we transformed it into the Restorative Justice Office. We still carry on the work of visiting inmates behind bars, but now we have a much larger agenda. Restorative Justice is a more comprehensive model. We call it the Modesto Model since it was mapped out on a flight while flying over Modesto, California. It is an intensive Diocesan ministry department advocating for victims families, working to restore people, visiting people in jails, conducting mentoring programs, working with offenders and all affected by the effects of violence.

There are many people who need help channeling their emotions into productive rather than destructive actions. This requires a lot of trained mentors who work from a faith basis. The Diocese is working hard in this area. There is a great shortage of dollars put into the restorative programs and through visibility in churches we can get more volunteer leaders involved in this work. The Diocese had its first symposium at Santa Clara University for this ministry on March 10, 2012.

People in the Church have been working on the right side of issues such as working to end slavery, eliminating segregation and now trying to get people on the band wagon to replace the death penalty with restorative justice attitudes and ideals. We all have to work to replace the anger and fear in those among us by love and compassion. Keep California in your prayers and may God’s will be done.