This prayer service focuses on the life and ministry of St. Maximilian Kolbe, patron saint of prisoners and the pro-life movement. Lifting up the work of all pro-life advocates, the service highlights in a particular way our shared Catholic call to end the use of the death penalty. This resource features: A short biography of St. Maximilian Kolbe…
March 19th is the feast day of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, travelers, fathers, immigrants, and the Congregation of St. Joseph, of which Catholic Mobilizing Network is a sponsored ministry. This prayer service takes inspiration in the life of St. Joseph, and asks for this intercession for the work of transforming the criminal…
Intended for use in the days and hours surrounding an execution, CMN’s Prayer Vigil for an Execution allows participants to reflect on the themes of forgiveness and mercy in the face of the death penalty. The service invites all to lift up the dignity of life and pray for those impacted by violence, deepening our…
![[Infographic] Catholic Social Teaching & the Death Penalty](https://catholicsmobilizing.org/wp-content/uploads/cst-and-dp-768x524.jpg)
This short infographic highlights the ways in which capital punishment violates four of the major themes of Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable Call for Family, Community, and Participation Solidarity
The culture of life we seek is built on a foundation of prayer. The “Holy Hour of Mercy” resource guides you through an Hour of praying for life and an end to the death penalty. It includes: The St. Michael Prayer The Divine Mercy Chaplet A Litany for Life This guided Holy Hour for Mercy…
This collection of movies and documentaries explores the issues of capital punishment and restorative justice and highlights themes of mercy, hope, and respect for life. Listed titles include Just Mercy (2019), Dead Man Walking (1996), and Where There is Darkness (2019). (Make sure to visit CMN’s Just Mercy Catholic study guide for reflection questions and Church…
Letters to the Editor (LTE) are critical tools for advocacy, especially when it comes to ending the death penalty. Short and easy to write, they are effective at shaping public opinion and shifting narratives on contemporary issues. Most importantly, they provide a platform for advocates like YOU to speak out on the issues they care…
A Prayer for Those Affected by Violence and Harm of Any Kind Loving and merciful God, We hold in prayer each of us who have experienced harm, in any form. We especially pray for victims of violence and their families, that they may experience love and support, and find comfort in your compassion. Grant us…
![[Video] “Inadmissible”: The 2018 Catechism Revision on the Death Penalty](https://catholicsmobilizing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot_4.png)
On August 2, 2018, Pope Francis made a historic revision to the Catechism of the Catholic Church which declared the death penalty “inadmissible” in all cases. Watch this 2-minute video to understand the impact of this change:
Dios misericordioso, Tú donas a cada ser humano una dignidad imprescindible que no puede ser eliminada por lo que éste haya echo o sufrido. Enraizados en el valor sagrado de la vida, trabajamos juntos para transformar el sistema judicial abrogando la pena de muerte. Reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de ¨trabajar con determinación para la abolición de la…
This prayer serves to remind us of the unconditional opportunity for redemption that, as God’s children, we all share. Pray it alone or with others in community, asking God to “sustain our pursuit of reconciling justice, that we may model Christ’s compassion and mercy with our lives.” God of Mercy, You bestow upon every person a dignity that…
![[One-Pager] Standing for Life: Our Catholic Faith and the Death Penalty](https://catholicsmobilizing.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Standing_for_Life_Graphic-768x575.png)
The Catholic Church has long supported alternatives to the death penalty. Each of the last three popes spoke out publicly against capital punishment, acknowledging the ways it violates the inherent dignity of the human person. Download the handout below to learn more about the church’s history of opposition to the death penalty and ways we can…