For Immediate Release
January 10, 2019
For More Information
Katlyn Toelle
(202) 541-5290
katlyn@catholicsmobilizing.org
Catholic Mobilizing Network to Host Screening of Award-Winning Film
Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), the national Catholic organization working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice, is eager to announce an upcoming public film screening of the award-winning documentary, Where There Is Darkness:
Film Screening: Where There is Darkness
Thursday, January 17, 2019
8:00 - 10:00 PM
The Catholic University of America
Hannan Hall Room #108
Washington, DC
The film tells the story of Fr. Rene Robert, who was tragically murdered in April 2016 by a man named Steven Murray. Years before, as a young priest, Fr. Rene signed what is known as a Declaration of Life — a statement expressing his wish that should he ever die as a result of a violent crime, the death penalty not be imposed on his killer.
The Declaration kept Murray from receiving a death sentence, effectively saving his life.
“Fr. Rene’s lifelong commitment to upholding dignity of the human person transcended even his own death,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of CMN. “We are blessed to have this opportunity to lift up Fr. Rene’s powerful story on the eve of the annual March for Life. The film demonstrates that the virtues of forgiveness and mercy know no bounds.”
Catholic Mobilizing Network is co-hosting the screening with the film’s producer, Stella Mar Films, along with Catholic University’s National Catholic School of Social Service and the Law of Life Summit.
“Fr. Rene had a deep love for the ‘least of these,’ which ultimately led to his death,” said Sean Bloomfield, one of the filmmakers and co-founder of Stella Mar Films. “His belief in the sanctity of every human life, however, has carried on—not only in his story, as told in Where There is Darkness, but also in the tireless efforts of everyone who shares that same conviction today.”
Tickets are $8.00 and are available for purchase online. Catholic University students with a valid student ID are invited to attend free of charge.
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CMN is a national organization that mobilizes Catholics and all people of goodwill to value life over death, to end the death penalty, to transform the U.S. criminal justice system from punitive to restorative, and to build capacity in U.S. society to engage in restorative practices.
CMN works in close collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and lives the Spirit of Unity of its sponsor, the Congregation of St. Joseph.
