“Todos los cristianos y hombres de buena voluntad están llamadas hoy a trabajar no sólo por la abolición de la pena de muerte, sino también para mejorar las condiciones de las cárceles, en el respeto de la dignidad humana de las personas privadas de libertad.” - Papa Francisco
CMN has created a wide-ranging collection of resources available for download and use. Below you will find our full catalogue of resources for your parish, school, community, or personal use. CMN has resources for all age groups, including youth, teen and even the whole family.
Simply use the filters below to sort by: Age (Adult, Family, Teen, etc.), Category (Educate, Advocate, Pray), Issue (Death Penalty, Restorative Justice), Type (Fact Sheet, Workshop, Video, etc.), and/or State then click the “Filter” button to find exactly the tool you are looking for.
Action Response
Your legislators are undertaking legislation which would restore the death penalty in Delaware. The death penalty does not serve as a deterrent, it risks innocent lives and costs tax payers millions of dollars more than life without parole.
CMN’s Mercy in Action Project seeks to promote clemency for those facing imminent execution. By joining the Mercy in Action Project you will receive monthly alerts with information on upcoming executions and tools to advocate for clemency in those cases as well as prayerful resources.
“All Christians and people of good will are thus called today to fight not only for the abolition of the death penalty, whether legal or illegal, and in all its forms, but also in order to improve prison conditions, with respect for the human dignity of the people deprived of their freedom” - Pope Francis #Pledge4Mercy
Books
David Matzko McCarthy’s Death Penalty and Discipleship is a faith formation resource to help communities and individuals reflect more deeply on capital punishment.
By David Matzko McCarthy, Trudy D. Conway, and Vicki Schieber, Editors
Commissioned by Catholic Mobilizing Network, this new book on Restorative Justice serves as a guiding context for our work to promote restorative justice.
By David Matzko McCarthy, Trudy D. Conway, and Vicki Schieber, Editors
Forward by Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ
Fact Sheet
CMN created brief one page information sheets that shares Catholic Teaching and state-specific information on the death penalty. These are designed to educate Catholics, serve as bulletin inserts, handouts or for those attending diocesan or parish advocacy days in your state.
CMN created brief one page information sheets that shares Catholic Teaching and state-specific information on the death penalty. These are designed to educate Catholics, serve as bulletin inserts, handouts or for those attending diocesan or parish advocacy days in your state.
CMN created brief one page information sheets that shares Catholic Teaching and state-specific information on the death penalty. These are designed to educate Catholics, serve as bulletin inserts, handouts or for those attending diocesan or parish advocacy days in your state.
CMN created brief one page information sheets that shares Catholic Teaching and state-specific information on the death penalty. These are designed to educate Catholics, serve as bulletin inserts, handouts or for those attending diocesan or parish advocacy days in your state.
Infographic
This one-page flyer highlights some of our extensive collection of resources broken down into the categories of "Educate, Advocate, and Pray."
This infographic includes 5 facts about the death penalty in the United States that everyone should know. Download and share this tool with your community or parish to teach about problems with the death penalty in our country.
CMN has prepared some social media tools to help spread, to assist you in your efforts to advocate for the dignity of ALL life. We've created several suggested tweets and social media graphics for use on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Use this informative infographic to understand how the death penalty fails to keep society safer. This one pager fact sheet helps to explain why it is time we end the use of the death penalty in the United States.
Lesson Plan or Study Guide
Help to educate your parish or community with this set of 6 short bulletin articles focusing on Catholic Social Teaching and the Death Penalty. The articles cover different aspects of Catholic Social Teaching as it applies to the death penalty.
Rooted in both scripture and the rich tradition of our faith, Catholic Social Teaching is a guide for how to live as a people of justice and mercy.
In this session teens are led through a process to help them understand the differences between justice, mercy and grace - and how these concepts are ones that require considerable thought and attention.
What does The Bible have to say about the death penalty and restorative justice? This resource contains different bible passages and guiding questions to explore The Bible's teaching on the death penalty and restorative justice.
Podcast
Working with journalist Andrea Acosta, CMN’s Sr. Ilaria Buonriposi produces a weekly podcast addressing the Church’s position on the death penalty or restorative justice in three versions (30 seconds, 1 minute, and 5 minutes).
Working with journalist Andrea Acosta, CMN’s Sr. Ilaria Buonriposi produces a weekly podcast addressing the Church’s position on the death penalty or restorative justice in three versions (30 seconds, 1 minute, and 5 minutes).
Working with journalist Andrea Acosta, CMN’s Sr. Ilaria Buonriposi produces a weekly podcast addressing the Church’s position on the death penalty or restorative justice in three versions (30 seconds, 1 minute, and 5 minutes).
Working with journalist Andrea Acosta, CMN’s Sr. Ilaria Buonriposi produces a weekly podcast addressing the Church’s position on the death penalty or restorative justice in three versions (30 seconds, 1 minute, and 5 minutes).
Prayer Card
CMN's Prayer for Mercy is available for download as a sheet of 4 prayer cards.
Padre Misericordioso,
Te pedimos que bendigas todo lo que hacemos para
construir una cultura de paz. Escucha nuestra oración
por los que afectados por la pena de muerte.
Prayer Service or Vigil
By: Rev. Brian O. McDermott, S.J., Dr. Theol., Special Assistant to the President, Georgetown University
Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017
Intended for use before or on the day of an execution, CMN's Prayer Vigil for an Execution calls all to reflect on the themes of forgiveness and mercy in the face of the death penalty.
Inspired by the need for mercy in our society, this prayer vigil includes reflections on scripture and intersections for all those in need of healing.
By: Br. Matt Wooters SJ, Social Worker at Nativity Jesuit Academy in Milwaukee, WI.
Theater Project
“Nuestra Señora de la Vida,” written by Petra Alexander, is a Spanish language monologue which is a perfect tool to open up dialogue about life issues from the perspective of a young Latino American.
This inspiring one act play, created by Mimi Gisolfi DʼAponte, is based on the true story of Sister Marion Defeis' experiences as a prison chaplain at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in New York and her work to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws.
Toolkit
This October the Catholic Church across the United States will observe Respect Life Month. This is a time for and your parish community to renew your dedication to all human life. CMN has been hard at work preparing new and exciting materials to assist you in your advocacy for all life.
This toolkit is designed for College-Aged Adults. It provides resources to assist in educating, advocating, and praying for an end to the Death Penalty and promoting Restorative Justice on a college campus.
Video
Dr. Trudy Conway explains that Catholics are often not properly educated about Church teaching on the use of the death penalty, and the best way to help individuals understand is frame the issue as a fundamentally moral argument while putting a human face on the issue through stories or narratives.
The story of how noted anti-death penalty activist Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ became involved in ministry to those on death row and how it changed her life. Presented by the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty (catholicsmobilizing.org) and Full Focus Productions
Workshop or Retreat
Through scripture, prayer and conversation, this group reflection takes participants on a journey down the road of justice, mercy and forgiveness. While particularly appropriate for Lent, this examination of the story of Dismas is an appropriate resource for exploring the theme of true mercy during the jubilee year.
CMN’s Restorative Justice Workshop provides an overview of restorative justice philosophy and explores this issue through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. A slide by slide Facilitator’s Guide and participant handout ensure you have everything you need to clearly present our stunning Prezi Presentation from opening prayer to closing discussion questions.
Catholic communities are, by their very nature, intergenerational. Our membership, liturgical celebrations and Sacramental moments bring together generations of family members as the faith is passed on from oldest to youngest. Family workshops, like CMN’s “The Advent of Mercy,” make this intergenerational character a defining feature, incorporating various age groups in a hands-on learning process designed to engage all members of the family unit.
This intergenerational, interactive gathering is intended for parish or school communities who would like to start a shared conversation on the consistent ethic of life with parents, grandparents, children, siblings, etc.
