FAQs: Justice & Mercy Poetry Contest for Young Adults
Who is eligible to submit a poem?
This contest is intended for and open to U.S. Catholics between the ages 18-39.
What does my poem need to be about?
All poetry submissions should focus on the injustice of the capital punishment system in the United States. Some themes you may consider incorporating into your poem are:
- The racist roots of the U.S. death penalty system
- The inherent risk of executing an innocent person in the modern death penalty system
- How the death penalty denies our Gospel call to uphold and honor human dignity
- How your faith calls us to be people of faith, mercy, and redemption
What if I don’t know anything about the death penalty?
Check out these resources for more information about the U.S. death penalty system.
CMN Resources
- Our Work — Ending the Death Penalty
- Death Penalty Fact Sheet
- Webinar, The State of the Death Penalty in 2026: Trends, Realities, Advocacy
- What does the Church say about the death penalty?
- Racism and the Death Penalty: Compounding Systems of Dehumanization
- Video, The Pope’s Prayer Video — For the Abolition of the Death Penalty
Click here to explore CMN’s full resource library.
Does my poem need to rhyme?
While many poems do rhyme, it is not a requirement. Formal verse, free verse, and rhyming poems are all welcome.
When does the poetry contest end?
The last day to submit a poem is Friday, March 30, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
When will the contest winners be announced?
Contest winners will be announced in mid-April 2026 and will be notified via email.
What do the contest winners win?
The first-place winner of the poetry contest will receive a $500 cash prize and their poem will be published on CMN’s website and social media, plus an invitation to recite your poem at CMN’s Justice Reimagined Awards & Celebration event at the Vatican Embassy in October 2026.
The second-place winner of the poetry contest will receive a $300 cash prize and their poem will be published on CMN’s website and social media.
The third-place winner of the poetry contest will receive a $200 cash prize and their poem will be published on CMN’s website and social media.
Where do I submit my poem?
The 2026 submission window will open on February 23, 2026. Poems must be submitted by March 30, 2026 to be entered for a chance to win.