Apr 99

Views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of the AFSC.

To Heal These Wounds

Pat Clark directs the AFSC Criminal Justice Program.

All of what the various authors in this issue of Peacework have told us should give us more than enough reason to be opposed to the death penalty, but the major reason that we as people of faith should oppose and work for the abolition of the death penalty is that it is a morally bankrupt policy. Morally all killing is wrong, whether at the hands of the state or an individual. Indeed, most faith groups have strong, adamant statements of opposition to the death penalty. In 1976, the AFSC adopted a position of opposition to the death penalty based on the Quaker belief that every person has value in the eyes of God and on Quaker testimonies against the taking of human life. This policy followed on the heels of many years of faithful witness against the death penalty by members of the Religious Society of Friends. Nearly every mainstream religious group in the country has a strong, adamant, and clear statement of opposition to the death penalty. Yet, in spite of having positions of opposition on paper for many years, the religious community's voice has been fairly silent.

If we are to be successful in abolishing the death penalty, the religious community has to become mobilized to use its moral leverage to provide leadership on this issue. The death penalty represents the worst aspects of our society. Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking and spiritual adviser to several Louisiana death row inmates, has observed that the death penalty perpetuates three deep wounds in our society: the way we deal with racism, the way we treat the poor in our society, and the use of force to try to solve social problems. Because the religious community teaches about the potential for redemption and transformation, it has a responsibility-an obligation-to address these wounds in ways that are compassionate and that recognize the inherent dignity of each human person made in the image of God.

The religious community needs to find ways to reach out and support murder victim family members who often have nowhere to turn.

In 1996, the AFSC spearheaded the creation of the Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty Project with participation from a number of religious groups. At a conference in 1997, people of faith against the death penalty gathered to address the issue of the death penalty from a religious perspective. Since that time we have seen an increase in faith-based organizing against the death penalty. From individual congregations, to state councils of churches, from national religious groups and the Pope himself, it is clear that the religious community is making strides and having an impact on the issue of the death penalty. To be truly successful we need each of you to join forces in working for abolition. Things that people of faith can do include:

1. Write to someone on death row.

2. Have your congregation adopt a death row inmate (writing, remembering birthdays, etc).

3. Pray for all victims of violence, death row inmates, and death row inmate family members.

4. Write and/or call your legislators to express your opposition to the death penalty.

5. Host a program on the death penalty in your congregation.

6. Circulate petitions calling for a moratorium of the death penalty.

7. Monitor capital case trials.

If folks want to know more about our project it is: The Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty Project, c/o AFSC-Criminal Justice Program, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia PA 19102; 215/241-7130; fax 215/241-7119; <pclark@afsc.org>; www.deathpenaltyrelirious.org