For Immediate Release
October 9, 2018
For More Information
Katlyn Toelle
(202) 541-5290
katlyn@catholicsmobilizing.org
16th World Day Against the Death Penalty a Call to Action for Catholics
On Wednesday, October 10th, Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), the national Catholic organization working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice, joins the international community in its 16th annual observance of World Day Against the Death Penalty.
“This year’s World Day Against the Death Penalty (WDADP) is a call to action for Catholics and all people of goodwill, especially as it falls in October, the Church’s Respect Life Month,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of CMN. “As a global Church, we must proclaim what much of the world already knows to be true: that the death penalty is ineffective, inhumane, and an attack on the culture of life which we are called to protect.”
Standing in harsh juxtaposition to this year’s WDADP is the scheduled execution of Edmund Zagorski on Thursday, October 11th in Tennessee. The state intends to execute Mr. Zagorski despite receiving a signed declaration from his former jurors and prison staff supporting his clemency, as well as a wave of criticism following its problematic execution of Billy Ray Irick in August.
“Catholics oppose the death penalty at a higher rate than the general public and are well-represented in public and judicial offices,” said Vaillancourt Murphy. “With a planned execution in Tennessee this week and eight more scheduled before the year’s end, we have an extraordinary responsibility—both as believers and as citizens—to be unconditionally pro-life and to work from these positions of influence for an end to capital punishment.”
More information about Catholic Mobilizing Network can be found at catholicsmobilizing.org.
To oppose Tennessee’s execution of Edmund Zagorski, click here.
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Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), a sponsored ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph that works in close collaboration with United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, proclaims the Church’s pro-life teaching and prepares Catholics for informed involvement in the public debate to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice.
