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"The movement to
abolish the death penalty needs the religious community because
the heart of religion is about compassion, human rights, and the
indivisible dignity of each human person made in the image of
God."
--Sister Helen
Prejean
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Organize Faith-Based Learning Opportunities
Interfaith Statement of
Opposition to the Death Penalty
On March 3rd, 2005,
religious leaders from a variety of Christian and Jewish communities
gathered at the Capitol Building to urge state policymakers to
support repeal of the death penalty.
Following an interfaith press conference to publicize the growing
faith-based support for repeal, leaders met with the Governor's
Director of Legislative and Political Affairs to present a
joint statement of opposition to the death penalty.
The statement was signed by 66 faith leaders statewide and
represented 15 different Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish
denominations, including New Mexico's three Roman Catholic bishops
(Archbishop Sheehan and Bishops Pelotte and Ramirez), Bishop
Bjornberg of the Rocky Mountain Synod--ELCA, and Bishop Max
Whitfield of the United Methodist Church in New Mexico.
Thank you to New Mexico's faith leaders for proving to our state and
nation that the movement to abolish the death penalty is bipartisan
and interfaith!
The NM Coalition to Repeal the Death
Penalty has resources available to encourage dialogue on the death
penalty in your faith community. Download resources here or contact
us to order the materials described below. The
following suggestions are starting points for involving your
community in thoughtful conversation on capital punishment.
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Adult forums, youth groups, prayer groups, and discussion groups
are
opportunities to facilitate learning about the death
penalty.
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Invite a speaker to your faith community. The Coalition is available to
help you schedule a speaker.
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Preach
or encourage your religious leader to preach on the death
penalty.
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Use the study guide entitled Living and Dying According to the Voice of
Faith; Thinking about the Death Penalty.
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Read and use
Choose Life! -- Building Opposition to the Death Penalty".
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Watch a video
of Dead Man Walking
with family, friends, or your faith community, and use the
Dead Man Walking Study Guide.
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Take a look
at the
Educational Curriculum on the Death Penalty: a
free comprehensive internet curriculum for high and middle
school classrooms.
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The death penalty can be a
difficult issue to talk about.
Talking Together as Christians about Tough Social Issues
is available through our office.
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Watch Voices for Repeal, a video
narrated by Archbishop Michael Sheehan or Religious
Organizing Against the Death Penalty, a video of interviews
with faith leaders across the country. The Coalition has an
extensive video and reference library available for public use.
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Who is My Neighbor? Learning to
Care for Victims of Crime: suggestions for understanding and
working with victims of crime.
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Young People and the Death
Penalty: Bible passages and background information to accompany
three study sessions.
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Santa Fe NM