Send a message to the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency to oppose the upcoming execution of Frank Atwood.
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.
Sign the petition urging President Biden to honor the sanctity of life.
Catholic Oklahomans: Contact your state representative today and urge them to oppose the “Pardon and Parole Board Reform Act of 2022."
Catholic Georgians: Contact your state representative NOW to urge them to support death penalty abolition.
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
Created in partnership between CMN and Renew International, this small group resource examines Catholic teaching on the death penalty and is based on the insights of Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ.
Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity is a faith formation resource to help parishes, small groups, and individual believers reflect on the Catholic call to restorative justice.
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.
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.
This Respect Life Month, Catholic communities in Ohio can help build a culture of life by advocating in support of two death penalty abolition bills
A series of graphics highlighting the connection between the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the federal government's 2020 campaign to restart the practice of executions for the first time in 17 years.
Download and share these graphics to voice your support for those facing COVID-19 in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention centers, and encourage others to sign on to the Statement of Solidarity: A Catholic Response to COVID-19 Behind Bars.
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.
Download CMN's collection of resources and activities about capital punishment geared toward use by Catholic educators.
Download CMN's collection of resources for Catholic educators geared toward introducing new audiences to the concept of restorative justice as it aligns with Catholic Social Tradition.
When crime happens, the U.S. legal system asks three questions:
Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Bryan Stevenson, the film Just Mercy presents the stunning true story of Walter McMillian, a black man convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama in 1988 for a crime he did not commit. The film illustrates the structural racism endemic to our capital punishment system, and lays bare how this system devalues and cheapens all human life.
Learn about the opportunities and challenges surrounding federal death penalty abolition and find out ways you can take action.
The modern death penalty system in the U.S. arose from our nation's ugly histories of slavery, lynching, and racial violence. To this day, capital punishment is unfairly applied based on race and remains the most punitive practice within a infamously racist criminal legal system.
Amid a national reckoning on racial injustice, restorative justice principles and practices can offer healing ways of addressing the deep harms of racial oppression and transforming the broken systems which give them rise.
As Catholics, we understand that there is a Gospel call toward forgiveness — yet forgiveness is never an obligation, but a creative act of possibility and grace. Together, we can work to dispel common myths about forgiveness and open up new possibilities for reconciliation and healing.
A five-part series guiding small groups and individual believers through a Lenten exploration of restorative justice.
(Washington, DC) Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement in response to the federal executions scheduled this week:
Bishop McElroy challenges us to seek an ethic of justice that resembles the Good Samaritan's — a justice that heals, reconciles, and binds up our neighbors' wounds.
After 29 years of incarceration, Ernie Garcia shares his journey from a childhood where violence was the norm toward his ultimate transformation and reintegration with his community.
A defense attorney and victim outreach specialist share the story of restorative justice happening in one of the most unlikely places: a death penalty case at the U.S. Supreme Court.
As founder of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR), Fr. David Kelly illuminates how in instances of harm, simply asking the right questions can help us embark on a path of restoration and healing — a path that models Jesus' reconciling way.
Walk alongside Christ on his journey from death sentence to execution while meditating on the need to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice.
God who forgives,
We will never comprehend the depth of your mercy,
which brings saints and sinners alike into your embrace.
On July 17, 2020 a man named Dustin Lee Honken recited a poem called "Heaven-Haven" in the moments before his execution at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.
O God, Trinity of love, from the profound communion of your divine life, pour out upon us a torrent of fraternal love.
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.
A one-page factsheet highlighting Catholic teaching on the death penalty alongside data showcasing America's broken relationship with capital punishment and evidence of the growing momentum towards its abolition.
CMN created brief one page information sheets that share 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 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.
As people of faith, we can be instrumental in supporting victim-survivors through restorative processes designed to meet their unique needs.
A brand new resource exploring the foundational concepts and practical considerations for restorative justice engagement in Catholic settings.
Visit CMN's annual Respect Life Month Toolkit, featuring dozens of resources for anti-death penalty education, advocacy, and prayer.
Visit this series of thoughtful reflection questions and supplementary resources to explore the Catholic call to uphold the sanctity of life within the U.S. criminal legal system.
The federal death penalty system is broken, unfair, and unjust.
This reflection was originally shared at CMN's virtual First Friday Prayer Vigil on Oct. 1, 2021. Learn more about our monthly prayer vigils and RSVP to attend.
Today is the feast of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, patron saint of prisoners and the pro-life movement, and the victim of a state-sponsored execution. There's
Catholic ministry leaders, restorative justice experts, and people who have been impacted by harm and crime explore the relationship between our Catholic faith and the philosophy and practices of restorative justice.
Learn more about the current landscape of the federal death penalty and how Catholics can help prevent a future federal execution spree.
Watch CMN's four-part webinar series exploring practical components of restorative justice approaches within Catholic ministry. Each session highlights a particular “Opportunity in Ministry,” drawing out themes and learnings that are applicable to all settings.
Learn more about the historic Synod on Synodality and how restorative practices can enrich the listening processes taking place in Catholic parishes and dioceses nationwide.
This webinar (broadcasted on April 22, 2020) explores how restorative practices can offer ways of coping with life amidst a global pandemic. The discussion features insights from Sheryl Wilson, an esteemed restorative justice practioinery and national leader.
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.
