Religion and the Death Penalty

A magazine devoted to the intersection of religion and the death penalty. Includes links to news and resources.

By Indiana Abolition Coalition

Top Vatican diplomat calls for universal abolition of death penalty
americamagazine.org - Anne Condodina - Catholic News Service September 27, 2018
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Abolishing the death penalty worldwide would reflect the brave and hope-filled belief that crime can be dealt with without …
Shane Claiborne: Christians are why the death penalty lives on
religionnews.com
(RNS) — With America’s next executions scheduled for Thursday (Aug. 9) in Tennessee and next week (Aug. 14) in Nebraska, there couldn’t have been a …
Pope Francis changes Catholic Church teaching to say death penalty is ‘inadmissible’
The Washington Post - By Chico Harlan
ROME — Pope Francis has changed Catholic Church teaching to fully reject the death penalty, the Vatican announced Thursday, saying it would work to abolish capital punishment worldwide. The revision to
Opinion | Death penalty's toll on state's executioners
commercialappeal.com
The criminal justice system is divided into three distinct but equally important components -- law enforcement, courts and corrections. There is no …
Court upholds decision barring pastor/judge from death penalty cases
baptistnews.com - Bob Allen
A three-judge panel of federal appeals court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit testing the boundary between religious liberty and judicial restraint. The …
All serious criminal cases deserve podcast-style scrutiny
baltimoresun.com - Elizabeth Vartkessian
Listening to the true crime podcast In the Dark, produced by American Public Media, has been a frustrating experience. Season two, which has been …
Anti-death penalty resolution builds on church’s advocacy in wake of Arkansas executions
episcopalnewsservice.org - lwilson
The Rev. Allison Liles, executive director of Episcopal Peace Fellowship, testifies July 9 in favor of an anti-death penalty resolution before …
Scheduled execution in Nebraska 'would undermine respect for human life'
catholicnewsagency.com - CNA Editor
Lincoln, Neb., Jul 6, 2018 / 05:11 pm ().- Nebraska's bishops on Friday issued a statement opposing the execution of Carey Dean Moore, whose …
Episcopal Peace Fellowship Death Penalty Abolition Action Group
facebook.com
I’m up early this morning to testify in favor of resolution D077 calling for commuted sentences for those living on death row. This resolution was …
The Unseen Anguish of a Death Sentence
medium.com - Richard Dieter
Wounds heal. Harsh words are forgiven. Even the searing pain of a great loss eases with time. But when I sentenced a man to death over two decades …
Editorial: Fix the death penalty by killing it
theintell.com
A recently released report on the death penalty system in Pennsylvania suggested several changes. Here's a change it didn't suggest, and it's the only …
Gwinnett County
Gwinnett stepmom turns to divine guidance in death-penalty case
ajc.com - Bill Rankin
Against the advice of practically everyone associated with her case, Moss, saying it’s God’s will, announced plans to represent herself when she goes …
Television Documentary Chronicles Innocence Claims of Two Death-Row Prisoners
deathpenaltyinfo.org - aholsinger
A new documentary airing on ABC tells the stories of Darlie Lynn Routier and Julius Jones, two death-row prisoners who have long argued they were …
Lindy Lou, Juror Number 2 | POV | PBS
pbs.org - POV
Mennonite woman jailed for refusing on religious grounds to testify in death-penalty case
The Washington Post - By Meagan Flynn
“I feel like I’m having to choose between you and God.” That’s what Greta Lindecrantz, a 67-year-old Mennonite, told an Arapahoe County, Colo., district judge on Wednesday after she ordered her to testify
Capital Punishment
presbyterianmission.org
Presbyterian General Assemblies have been concerned not only for the issue of capital punishment, but also for those imprisoned. The major policy …
Death Row Inmates Paint Scenes of Jesus' Crucifixion; Deacon Says They're Not 'Unsaveable Monsters'
christianpost.com - Stoyan Zaimov
Christian inmates at a maximum security prison in Nashville have been displaying a major artwork of Jesus Christ and the crucifixion across the …
Faithful death penalty opponents decry governor’s proposal
Chicago Tribune - Manya Brachear Pashman
Jeanne Bishop doesn’t know which she finds more offensive about Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal to reinstate the death penalty for mass killers and people who murder law enforcement officers: that, as some
Pastor/judge repeats controversial death penalty protest
baptistnews.com
An Arkansas judge and pastor of a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church participated in an anti-death penalty demonstration this week, re-enacting …
Is the death penalty un-Christian?
theconversation.com - Mathew Schmalz
Arkansas executed a fourth prisoner on death row Sunday night. Three days prior to that, the state had done two back-to-back executions by lethal …
Jewish Leaders Take A Stand Against The Death Penalty — Jewish Journal
jewishjournal.com - BY Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz | Feb 17, 2016 | Arts
In a petition initiated by Uri L’Tzedek, the Orthodox social justice movement, Jewish leaders across Jewish denominations expressed opposition to the …
Pope Francis Message to 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, June 22 2016 | Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN)
catholicsmobilizing.org
“There is no fitting punishment without hope! Punishment for its own sake, without room for hope, is a form of torture, not of punishment.” In a video …
2018's Work to End the Death Penalty: Legislative Recap and Look Forward | Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN)
catholicsmobilizing.org
Legislative efforts to end the use of the death penalty in key states have proved active and energized during the first half of 2018. In some state …
Acts of Convention: Resolution # 2015-D025
episcopalarchives.org
Death Row Support Project
brethren.org
“Everybody on death row needs someone at their side.”—Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ A person confined to death row often spends up to 23 hours each day alone …
Death Penalty Abolition Action Group - Episcopal Peace Fellowship
epfnational.org
Death Penalty Abolition Action Group To join our efforts and receive The Abolitionist—the free electronic newsletter of the Death Penalty Abolition …
Episcopal cathedral in Arkansas to hold prayer vigil on eve of executions
episcopalnewsservice.org
[Trinity Episcopal Cathedral press release] Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will hold a special “Service of Prayer and Vigil on the Eve of Executions” at …
Atlanta bishop rallies opposition to death penalty with book of articles by faith, legal leaders
episcopalnewsservice.org - David Paulsen
Diocese of Atlanta Bishop Robert Wright, center, joins an anti-death penalty demonstration in 2014 outside the prison in Jackson, Georgia, where …
Death Penalty
umcjustice.org
We worship a God who received the death penalty. Jesus was tried, sentenced, and murdered by the state. He died on a cross on a hill between two …