President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr have the power to reverse the decision to restart federal executions. Add your name to this petition to urge them to take this crucial step to uphold a culture of life.
Resources
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.
On Monday, January 27, 2020, the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would ban the state from executing people with severe mental illness. The bill is expected to come to a floor vote later this week.
Catholic Coloradans: Urge your legislators TODAY to support death penalty repeal bill SB20-100
On October 23, 2019, James Dailey was granted a stay of execution effective through December 30, 2019 in order for his legal counsel to have time to present new and substantial claims of innocence. Send a letter to Governor DeSantis and urge him to grant a clemency hearing for Mr. Dailey.
More than 25,000 Catholics and people of faith have already pledged to educate, advocate, and pray for an end to the death penalty. Will you answer the call?
CMN’s Mercy in Action Project gives YOU the tools you need to promote clemency for those on death row. Sign up today to start receiving monthly execution alerts.
“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
This faith formation guide invites groups and individuals to reflect upon the Catholic call to restorative justice.
Responding to Pope Francis' call to mercy and encounter, this book is an invitation to consider our individual responses to harm, our communal responses to crime and how our criminal justice system falls short of promoting human dignity, hope and healing. Through scripture, personal stories, and eye-opening facts, each chapter encourages prayerful contemplation about ways to prioritize human dignity and the common good when responding to crime, incarceration and the use of the death penalty in the United States.
A selection of CMN's favorite books covering the topics of capital punishment and restorative justice.
Developing the traditional Catholic understanding of justice, offering a theological understanding of restorative justice, and explaining how it can be implemented.
Hear firsthand from murder victims' family members who are speaking out against the death penalty.
In this homily, Fr. William Kelley, S.J. provides us with an inspirational call to understand how we, as Catholics, can uphold the dignity of all human life, regardless of circumstance. This comes in light of the recent, and unexpected July 25, 2019 announcement from the Department of Justice that it will resume executions at the federal level for the first time in sixteen years.
August 5, 2018 / 18th Ordinary / Cycle B
Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Washington DC
This report is a comprehensive look at the status of capital punishment on a national level as well as on a state-by-state basis. The report includes legislative updates from the past year, statistics on executions and death sentences, and much more.
Harness the power of social media and start advocating for the dignity of all life. Click on any of the graphics below to view them full size. Then, download and share using the hashtags #RespectLifeMonth and #HopeOverDeath.
Harness the power of social media and start advocating for the dignity of all life. Click on any of the graphics below to view them full size. Then, download and share using the hashtags #RespectLifeMonth and #HopeOverDeath.
Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Bryan Stevenson, the film Just Mercy presents the stunning t
This resource contains different Bible passages and guiding questions to explore the Bible's teaching on the death penalty and restorative justice.
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 death penalty is incompatible with Catholic Social Teaching. Here's why.
This film list is compiles CMN's favorite movies and documentaries concerning the death penalty and restorative justice. Explore these titles as introductions to the topics, talking points for discussion, or tools for study within a community.
Check out the recording and download the PowerPoint of CMN's latest webinar: Building a Culture of Life: End the Death Penalty and Promote Restorative Justice. Watch the webinar and learn:
When harm happens, asking restorative questions can help us begin discerning how to repair the damage done in a manner that models Jesus' reconciling way.
When crime happens, the U.S. legal system asks three questions:
For the first time in 16 years, the federal government plans to resume the practice of capital punishment, with four executions scheduled between December 2019 and January 2020.
Join Msgr Stuart Swetland, Fr. George Williams SJ, and Vicki Schieber for part two of a conversation about CMN, our work, and the current state of the movement to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice.
Join Msgr Stuart Swetland, Fr. George Williams SJ, and Vicki Schieber for a conversation about CMN, our work, and the current state of the movement to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice.
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).
Attending the March for Life? (Or know someone who is?) Carry this sign with you to affirm your commitment to upholding the dignity of ALL human life.
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.
Take part in a new prayer initiative created by Eric Williams, a current Texas death row inmate. Every Friday Evening at 8:00 PM Central, death row inmates around the nation are invited to pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary "in unity of purpose for an end to the death penalty, the intentions of those inmates currently on death row, and overall prison reform."
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.
The culture of life we seek is built on a foundation of prayer. The Holy Hour of Mercy is a resource that guides you through an hour of praying for life and an end to the death penalty. Prayers in this hour include the St. Michael Prayer, The Divine Mercy Chaplet, and a Litany for Life.
Intended for use in the days and hours surrounding an execution, CMN's Prayer Vigil for an Execution allows participa
As in all things, we turn to prayer, asking Our Blessed Mother to intercede on our behalf:
Mary, friend and mother to all,
through your Son, God has found a way
to unite himself to every human being,
called to be one people,
sisters and brothers to each other.
January 1, 2020 - Pope Francis released this message for the 53rd World Day of Peace. His message focuses on hope and reconciliation – essential elements to promoting peace.
Saint Martin de Porres was born to a possibly black, possibly indigenous woman from Panama and a hispanic man from Peru. He was called "half-breed" and "war souvenir" by those of "pure" blood. Despite the prejudice against his racial makeup, Martin gave with a generous heart, even as a child.
This prayer card is a short, simple reminder of how deep the harm of crime reaches. Join us as we pray for all those affected by crime.
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.
Catholic Mobilizing Network offers this collection of Advent Reflections as a complement to this season of preparation for the coming of Chri
Prepare for October's Respect Life Month activities with CMN's updated resource.
October is Respect Life Month, a time for Catholics to reflect more deeply on the God-given dignity of all human life.
Catholic Mobilizing Network invites you to pray along with us this Lenten season. For each week of Lent, we offer a special reflection to guide your spiritual preparation for the death and resurrection of Christ.
These educational modules explore opportunities for restorative justice practices in the criminal justice system, parish communities and daily life.
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.
