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Missionary Oblates Join National Catholic Campaign To End The Use Of The Death Penalty July 18th, 2017
The Missionary Oblates JPIC office has joined and signed a Pledge to Educate, Advocate and Pray for an end to the use of the death penalty in the United States. The National Catholic Campaign To End The Use Of The Death Penalty calls on Catholic faithful and organizations to promise to Educate, Advocate and Pray for an end to the use of the death penalty.
The pledge drive is organized by the Catholic Mobilizing Network as part of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference. Catholic Bishops were among the first to sign the National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty during the launch in May 2017.
The Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty is part of the Missionary Oblates JPIC Consistent Life initiative. In this campaign, JPIC office provides resources and faithful action suggestions to Oblates and associates reflecting the teaching of the Catholic Church to end the use of the death penalty in the United States.
In response to Pope Francis’s call, pledge to educate, advocate, and pray for the end of the death penalty. Get more information at National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty here:
https://catholicsmobilizing.org/action/pledge
October is Respect Life Month: Every Life is Worth Living October 13th, 2015
“Every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes.”
– Pope Francis’ Address to a Joint Session of the US Congress, Sept 24, 2015
During the month of October the Catholic Church in the U.S. celebrates “Respect Life Month.” This is a time for Catholics across the country to reflect on and witness to the dignity of the human person. This year’s theme, Every Life is Worth Living, focuses on the issues of abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty.
Respect Life resources in English and Spanish can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website, where you will also find a Respect Life Month Statement by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM.
Join us in praying for a greater respect for human life from conception to natural death:
“Father and maker of all,
you adorn all creation
with splendor and beauty,
and fashion human lives
in your image and likeness.
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of life.
Grant this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.
Amen”
–USCCB Prayer for Life–
Despite Francis’ intervention, Georgia moves forward with execution (Catholic News Report) September 30th, 2015
In a letter to Georgia’s Board of Pardons and Paroles, Pope Francis has asked the state not to execute Kelly Gissendaner, who was put on death row for the 1997 killing of her husband. Gissendaner — a mother of three — is scheduled for execution at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. Read entire article here: Despite Francis’ intervention, Georgia moves forward with execution
JPIC Report Fall/Winter 2014 Issue Now Available On-Line September 17th, 2014
The Fall/Winter 2014 issue of JPIC Report is now available on line as a PDF. It will soon be available in print form.
Please contact Mary O’Herron in the JPIC Office if you want to be added to the mailing list.
You can find all issues of JPIC Report on this website in the Resources section. (Download a PDF of the latest issue)
California Death Penalty Ruled Unconstitutional July 20th, 2014
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind…
On July 16, a federal judge in California ruled that the state’s death penalty is unconstitutional, based on the lengthy delays involved in executions. The Judge ruled that the “arbitrariness” and “unpredictability” with which the death penalty is carried out violates the constitution’s ban on “cruel and unusual” punishment.
Faith groups and Organizations supporting abolition of death penalty are now starting to assess all the implications of this ruling. The decision is not likely to lead to immediate changes regarding the death penalty in California, as there have been no executions there since 2006. If the State appeals though, the question of whether, and when, problems with a state’s death penalty system can render it unconstitutional will then be decided by a federal appeals court in San Francisco. A ruling from that court (the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals) in favor of this recent opinion would affect the death penalty in states throughout the west.
The OMI JPIC office will share with you the legal implications arising from this ruling on the death penalty in California, as well as action alerts from the California Catholic Bishops Conference.
The Bishops in California were strong supporters of Proposition 34 to end the use of the death penalty in California. Proposition 34 was defeated as a ballot initiative in 2012.
More information here: California Death Penalty Unconstitutional
