Young woman writing

For Immediate Release: Mar. 17, 2022
Contact: Katlyn Toelle at katlyn@catholicsmobilizing.org
Website: catholicsmobilizing.org Twitter: @CMNEndtheDP

(Washington, D.C.) A new poetry contest from Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) invites young Catholics between the ages of 18-30 to submit an original poem about the injustice of capital punishment for a chance to win a cash prize. The Justice and Mercy Poetry Contest for Young Catholics runs until May 31, 2022.

“Young people are the future of our Church and the death penalty abolition movement,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of CMN. “They consistently oppose capital punishment at higher rates than their older counterparts. They understand that the death penalty perpetuates racism, targets vulnerable populations, and risks innocent lives. For all these reasons, we have little doubt that young people will ultimately be the driving force behind ending capital punishment in the U.S.”

“CMN created the Justice and Mercy Poetry Contest in recognition of young people’s indispensable role in the work of death penalty abolition. It’s our way of saying, ‘Your voices matter,’” Vaillancourt Murphy added. “All throughout history, poetry has communicated bold ideas and deeply-held beliefs about what matters most. We are so eager to listen to gifted young people share their perspectives on the injustice of the death penalty and, in their own words, what justice and mercy mean to them.”

Poetry contest entrants are eligible to win up to $1,000 in cash, and the first-place winner will be invited to read their poem at CMN’s Justice Reimagined Awards and Celebration on October 10, 2022 at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, DC.

More information is available on the poetry contest website (catholicsmobilizing.org/poetry-contest) and contest FAQ (catholicsmobilizing.org/poetry-contest-FAQ).

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Catholic Mobilizing Network 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.

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