Resources

  • [Webinar] The Movie Just Mercy: An Opportunity for Church Leaders to Address Racism

    Catholic Mobilizing Network’s Executive Director Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy is on a panel of ministry leaders conversing about the movie Just Mercy, and the ways in which it can inspire action among Catholics to address the sin of racism. Just Mercy is available for streaming on digital platforms. It tells the stunning true story of young…

  • Death Penalty FAQ

    What does the Catholic Church teach about the death penalty? On August 2, 2018, the Catechism of the Catholic Church section 2267 was updated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith to reflect the Church’s evolving stance on capital punishment: “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and…

  • [Webinar] Using Your Voice to End the Death Penalty: How to Write a Letter to the Editor

    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 about. This…

  • Homily on the Death Penalty, by Fr. William Kelley, S.J.

    In this homily, Fr. William Kelley, S.J. provides an inspirational call to understand how we, as Catholics, can uphold the dignity of all human life, regardless of circumstance. Fr. Kelly was preaching this homily in light of the unexpected July 25, 2019 announcement from the Department of Justice that it would resume executions at the…

  • [Video] 5 Lessons from Open Wide Our Hearts, the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral Letter Against Racism

    In November 2018, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love – A Pastoral Letter Against Racism. This 2-minute video from Catholic Mobilizing Network highlights five important takeaways from the letter. Download Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter against…

  • Pope Francis’ 2018 Address to the International Commission Against the Death Penalty

    Below is an excerpt from an address Pope Francis gave to the Delegation of the International Commission Against the Death Penalty on December 17, 2018. In his speech, the Holy Father amplifies the Church’s responsibility to stand up for all human life and work to end the death penalty. This text can support the preparation…

  • [Video] Hope Over Death: A Catholic Family’s Journey of Forgiveness and Restorative Justice

    On April 2, 2010, Ann Grosmaire died after being shot by her fiance, Conor. Moved by their Catholic faith and inspired by Saint John Paul II’s forgiveness of Mehmet Ali Ağca, Ann’s parents, Kate and Deacon Andy Grosmaire, felt called to forgive Conor. Together with Conor’s parents, the Grosmaires fought to address the crime in a…

  • [Book] Redemption and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Restorative Justice

    Published in 2017, Redemption and Restoration is a comprehensive exploration of restorative justice though a Catholic perspective. It aims at equipping Catholics to participate in the national conversation surrounding the need for criminal justice reform and restorative justice, to create the programs needed to assist in healing the harm caused by crime, and to restore…

  • [Book] Where Justice and Mercy Meet: Catholic Opposition to the Death Penalty

    By David Matzko McCarthy, Trudy D. Conway, and Vicki Schieber, Editors Forward by Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ Click here to order the book through Liturgical Press. Where Justice and Mercy Meet: Catholic Opposition to the Death Penalty comprehensively explores the Catholic stance against capital punishment in new and important ways through a number of essays by faculty…