Your voice is critical! On April 17th, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to repeal the death penalty by a 2 to 1 majority. Death penalty repeal bill, SB593 is expected to go to the House floor Thursday, April 26th for a final vote. Now is the time to tell your legislators that New Hampshire deserves better than the death penalty!
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
Erick Davila is scheduled to be executed on April 25, 2018 in Texas. Catholic Mobilizing Network calls on all people of goodwill to oppose this action. Advocate for clemency for Erick by sending a letter to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. In Texas, the Governor MUST have the recommendation of clemency from a board or advisory group
“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
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. Join us as we save lives on death row! The Mercy in Action Project is being partially supported by a grant from The Consistent Life Network, an international pro-life, pro-peace coalition.
Books
CMN's book list includes some of our favorite selections covering both the death penalty and restorative justice. Use this list as a guide to learn more about these topics, or as a tool to help your parish or community reading group engage with these issues at a deeper level.
By David Matzko McCarthy, Trudy D. Conway, and Vicki Schieber, Editors
This new book on Restorative Justice serves as a guiding context for Catholic Mobilizing Network's work to promote restorative justice.
Follow the link below to learn why these murder victim family members speak out against the death penalty.
David Matzko McCarthy’s Death Penalty and Discipleship is a faith formation resource to help communities and individuals reflect more deeply on capital punishment.
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.
CMN created brief one page information sheets that share Catholic Teaching and state-specific information on the death penalty. These are designated to educate Catholics, serve as bulletin inserts, handouts or for those attending diocesan or parish advocacy days in your state.
Infographic
Catholic Social Teaching brings the teachings of Jesus and his call to discipleship to the larger societal conversation of social justice. This infographic highlights the ways in which the continued use of the death penalty violates our call to live as a people of life.
Commonly seen as a justification for the use the death penalty, the Old Testament command "Eye for an Eye" is often misunderstood. This infographic breaks down this scripture passage and connects it to the larger call for justice and mercy seen throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
Poverty plays a critical role in whether or not someone receives a death sentence. This helpful infographic explores some of the ways poverty impacts the use of the death penalty in this country.
This resource shows how we can bring the principles of restorative justice to our everyday interactions.
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.
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.
This document contains several pro-death penalty dialogues and a pro-life response. This can help prepare you for a conversation with a colleague who supports the death penalty.
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).
Poster
This powerful promotional flyer is perfect for use at your parish, school, or community center. Pulling on themes from CMN's 2018 Respect Life Month Toolkit, this flyer is a great way to start the conversation around our call to build a culture of life and end the death penalty.
Prayer Card
Estas oraciones de los fieles subrayan nuestro llamado a ser defensores de TODA vida.
These sample prayers of the faithful center on our call to be a people of life and the work to end the death penalty. Perfect for Respect Life Month or anytime of the year, these prayers of the faithful call all to be advocates for ALL life!
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
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.
Journey the way of the cross while meditating on the need to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice. This special death penalty themed Stations of the Cross will give you the opportunity to meditate on the many complex and unjust realities of the death penalty while journeying with Christ on his passion.
CMN's Holy Saturday Prayer Service serves as a way to explore one of the more profound - and underutilized - days of the liturgical year. Beginning from the darkness of Good Friday, this experiential prayer service invites participants to reflect on the role of harm in their own lives; and the lives of those impacted by the continued use of the death penalty and the larger criminal justice system.
Join us during the Lenten season for prayerful reflection and contemplation. Every Monday receive a special Lenten reflection for the coming Sunday. Available online and on social media. These reflections will unpack the scripture readings for the week through the lens of justice and mercy.
Theater Project
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.
“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.
Toolkit
This October, the Catholic Church across the United States will observe Respect Life Month. This is a time when we are invited to renew our dedication to lifting up the inherent, God-given dignity of all human life.
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
Archbishop Gregory Aymond of the Archdiocese of New Orleans has recorded a video encouraging all Catholics to join the work to end the death penalty.
Catholic Mobilizing Network's Executive Director, Karen Clifton, explains the concept of restorative justice and reflects on how it is tied to our Catholic faith.
Workshop or Retreat
This is a formational opportunity for small groups to learn about restorative justice as it relates to Catholic teaching and discern the call to restorative action in personal life, parish community and the criminal justice system.
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.
With this comprehensive resource, you don't need to be an expert to explore the death penalty issue in your school, parish, or community. Use our beautiful Prezi presentation and slide-by-slide Facilitator Guide to explore the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of all life and the social justice issues that surround the death penalty.
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.
