Death Penalty

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Created in God’s image, humans have inherent dignity and worth. This belief of the Catholic Church lays the foundation for all other teachings. The Sisters of St. Agnes and their Associates honor the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death. They oppose the death penalty.

In 2018, Pope Francis declared the death penalty “inadmissible” in all cases and formally changed the Catechism of the Catholic Church to reflect his stance. Read more here.
 

Letters to Inmates

Sisters of St. Agnes have a history of providing prison ministry through letters and visits. It is a special gift when inmates can write back.

Based on several sources, the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office produces a list of names and addresses of persons on death row.  Sisters and Associates write letters to inmates the month before they are scheduled to be executed and offer prayer for them, their family, their victims, and those having to perform the execution. A sample letter is provided. 

On the day of a person’s execution, a candle is lit, and their name is mentioned in the liturgy. 
 

Below are resources for those looking to join in the ministry of writing to prisoners on death row:

Public Opposition of the Death Penalty

In November 2022, the CSA joined “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” a national initiative that invites people of faith to publicly express opposition to executions and pray for all of those impacted in the aftermath of murder. Ideally, communities solemnly toll their bells for two minutes on the day of an execution in the U.S. As our buildings do not have bells, we’ve chosen other ways to voice our opposition and support those impacted.

On the day of an execution, a candle is lit and the name of the executed is displayed and mentioned in the liturgy at both the Motherhouse and Nazareth Court and Center residential center.  A black and white yard sign is also placed at these locations the week of the scheduled execution to indicate, “We Oppose the Execution this Week.” Prayers for those to be executed and their victims are also posted on social media.

May we find it in our hearts and minds to also pray for, and communicate with, the courts and judges who have jurisdiction over sentencing and for the state and national leaders who have the authority to abolish these barbaric laws.

Let us pause for a moment of silence…

For those who were killed in execution chambers this past month,
For their victims whose lives were taken away in violence,
For the families of the victims who continue to mourn,
For the families of the executed, who also continue to mourn
And for the state and prison employees who were asked to carry out these orders of execution.

May the ringing of bells across our country, and our signs of opposition, be a constant reminder that we are all diminished by continuing acts of state-sponsored violence in our country and in our world. The “For Whom the Bell Tolls” campaign will continue until the death penalty is abolished in the U.S.

Monthly Virtual Prayer Vigil

At 1 p.m. Central Time on the First Friday of each month, Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) holds a Virtual Prayer Vigil to lament upcoming executions and bear witness to the inviolable dignity of all human life.

Additional details and registration information are available on their website, where you can also sign up to receive monthly alerts about upcoming executions which include resources for prayer and advocacy.

 Sign up here