Catholic Mobilizing Network is just one of many national, state and local organizations seeking to end the use of the death penalty in the United States. We partner with many of these organizations and together with them we focus ongoing repeal efforts, share information and promote restorative justice. You can see below the many religious and secular anti-death penalty organizations with which we work.
Organizations
Catholics Against Capital Punishment
Catholics Against Capital Punishment was founded in 1992 to promote greater awareness of Catholic Church teachings that characterize capital punishment as unnecessary, inappropriate and unacceptable in today’s world.
Death Penalty Information Center
The Death Penalty Information Center is a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment. The Center was founded in 1990 and prepares in-depth reports, issues press releases, conducts briefings for journalists, and serves as a resource to those working on this issue. The Center is widely quoted and consulted by all those concerned with the death penalty.
Equal Justice USA
Equal Justice USA is a national, grassroots organization working to build a criminal justice system that is fair, effective, and humane, starting with repeal of the death penalty and increased services to families of homicide victims.
Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights
MVFHR challenges the assumption that all families of murder victims support the death penalty and frames the death penalty as both a victims’ issue and a human rights issue. Through public education, advocacy, and organizing, we amplify the voices of victims’ families who oppose the death penalty and provide anti-death penalty campaigns with victims’ uniquely compelling testimony. As well, we draw attention to the ways in which the death penalty harms the families of those executed, and we seek to achieve recognition for these families as victims of traumatic loss.
Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation
Founded in 1976, Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) is a national organization of family members of victims of both homicide and executions who oppose the death penalty in all cases. MVFR includes people of many different perspectives. Because violent crime cuts across a broad spectrum of society, our members are geographically, racially and economically diverse.
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) is the nation’s oldest organization dedicated to the abolition of the death penalty. We are comprised of an extensive network representing more than 100 state and national Affiliate organizations and thousands of advocates and volunteers. Our members include families of murder victims, persons from all points on the political and religious spectrums, past and present law enforcement officials and prominent civil and racial justice organizations working to end the death penalty forever.
Pax Christi USA
Pax Christi USA strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of society. Pax Christi USA rejects war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for creation. Pax Christi USA commits itself to peace education and, with the help of its bishop members, promotes the gospel imperative of peacemaking as a priority in the Catholic Church in the United States. Through the efforts of all its members and in cooperation with other groups, Pax Christi USA works toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.
People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
People of Faith Against the Death Penalty is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, interfaith organization whose mission is to educate and mobilize faith communities to act to abolish the death penalty in the United States. Founded in 1994 in North Carolina, PFADP focuses its programs on organizing among faith communities.
PFADP seeks to be totally inclusive – reaching out to all citizens regardless of faith, race or ethnic group, income, political affiliation, age, ability, and so on. Our members include Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and people from other faith traditions.
Death Penalty Focus
Founded in 1988, Death Penalty Focus is one of the largest nonprofit advocacy organizations in the nation dedicated to the abolition of capital punishment through public education; grassroots and political organizing; original research; media outreach; local, state and nationwide coalition building; and the education of religious, legislative and civic leaders about the death penalty and its alternatives.
Projects
Death Row Support Project
Since 1977 (when executions resumed in the U.S. after the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972), over 1,000 people have been executed in the United States. Thirty-eight states have capital punishment. Right now there are more than 3,000 people awaiting execution in this country. The average stay on death row is 12… MORE
For Whom The Bells Toll
For Whom the Bells Toll is a program coordinated by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty to encourage congregations to ring their bells at 6 p.m. for two minutes on the day of an execution in the United States.
Writing Wrongs Project
The Letter to the Editor Section is one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and can reach a large audience. It allows community members to comment on the way issues are being addressed in the media and to influence the topics the local paper may choose to cover. Elected officials often monitor… MORE