| Catholics Against Capital Punishment
PO Box 5706, Bethesda MD 20824
www.cacp.org
Catholic-Oriented
Resources on the
Death Penalty
Following is a list of selected publications, visual materials, and other resources considered to be of interest to Catholic individuals and groups involved in activities relating to the death penalty, updated as of August, 2006.
Please note that this list includes only resources that are specifically Catholic-oriented; space limitations preclude the addition of dozens of others (national, international, state, religious and secular) that may be of value. A comprehensive list of all such resources can be found on the Web site of the Washington, DC-based Death Penalty Information Center (go to www.deathpenaltyinfo.org, and click on “Resources”).
BOOKS
Bernardin, Joseph Cardinal. Consistent Ethic of Life. Chicago: Sheed and Ward, 1988. ISBN 1556121202.
Bosco, Antoinette. Choosing Mercy: A Mother of Murder Victims Pleads to End the Death Penalty. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001. 240 pp. ISBN 57075358X. Catholic journalist discusses her feelings following the murder of her son and his wife.
Brugger, E. Christian. Capital Punishment and Roman Catholic Moral Tradition. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2003. 296 pp. ISBN 026802359X.
Cabana, Donald A. Death at Midnight: The Confessions of an Executioner. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1996. 200 pp. ISBN 1555533566. A Catholic prison official recounts how his experiences as warden of Mississippi’s death row led to his change of heart about thedeath penalty.
Campion, Donald R., SJ, E. J. Dillon, and James J. Megivern. Capital Punishment. In: New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. [Vol. 3, pp. 83-87]. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2002. ISBN 0787640042.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2d ed. [Sections 2265-2267]. Washington, DC: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1997. 920 pp. ISBN 1574551108. Can also be downloaded from www.usccb.org/catechism/text/ index.htm
Gracida, Rene H. Capital Punishment and the Sacredness of Life. In: Shepherds Speak: American Bishops Confront the Social and Moral Issues That Challenge Christians Today, ed. by D. M. Corrado and J. F. Hinchey. New York: Crossroads/Herder & Herder, 1986.
Hehir, J. Bryan. Consistent Ethic of Life. In: The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, ed. by Richard P. McBrien. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995. ISBN 0060653388.
Hopcke, Robert H. Catholics and the Death Penalty: Six Things You Can Do to End Capital Punishment. Cincinnati: St. Anthony`s Messenger Press, 2004. 56 pp. ISBN 0867166134.
Langan, John, SJ. Capital Punishment. In: The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, ed. by Richard P. McBrien. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995. ISBN 0060653388.
McCarthy, Jeremiah J. Capital Punishment. In: The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought, ed. by Judith A. Dwyer. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1994. ISBN 0814655262.
Megivern, James J. The Death Penalty: An Historical and Theological Survey. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1997. 641 pp. ISBN 0809104873. Theologian traces the development and changes in Catholic Church doctrine on the death penalty throughout the centuries.
Prejean, Helen, CSJ. Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States. New York: Random House, 1993. 192 pp. ISBN 0679403582 (Hardcover). New York: Vintage, 1994. 276 pp., ISBN 0679751319 (Paperback). A Catholic nun recounts her service as spiritual advisor to two death row inmates.
Prejean, Helen, CSJ, and Lucille Sarrat. Reflections on Dead Man Walking. Plainfield, NJ: Renew International, 2000. 32 pp. ISBN 0764805649. Explores the death penalty in terms of Catholic social teaching and the example of Jesus. Designed for use by both adult and high school reading groups.
Prejean, Helen, CSJ. The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions. New York: Random House, 2005. 336 pp. ISBN 0679440569.
Recinella, Dale S. The Biblical Truth About America’s Death Penalty. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2004. 320 pp. ISBN 1555536336. Analyzes scriptural teachings on who deserves death, who has the authority to kill, and required standards for execution; draws a parallel between traditional biblical arguments supporting capital punishment and arguments used as the basis for pro-slavery positions in the 19th century.
VIDEOS / DVDs
Beaumont (Texas), Diocese of. Our Faith, Our Case Against the Death Penalty [Video, 10 min.]. Includes footage filmed inside the Texas death row and comments by Dead Man Walking author Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, Beaumont Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD, and Deacon Al O’Brien, director of the diocese’s Office of Criminal Justice Ministry. Includes an 8-page study guide. Available from the diocese’s Office of Criminal Justice Ministry, PO Box 3948, Beaumont TX 77704.
Brooklyn (NY), Diocese of, Sanctity of Life Commission. Mercy and Justice: The Morality of the Death Penalty [Video, 18 min.]. Features footage of Pope John Paul II’s January 1999 address in St. Louis, in which he called capital punishment “both cruel and unnecessary,” plus comments by anti-death penalty parents whose children were murdered. Includes a discussion guide and a copy of Bishop Thomas Daily’s 1999 pastoral letter on the issue. Available from the diocese’s Public Information Office, PO Box C, Brooklyn NY 11202.
Catholic Common Ground Initiative. The Death Penalty [Video, 28 min.]. Explores how the Church’s stance on the death penalty issue compares to, and fits with, its teachings on abortion and assisted suicide. Featured are Georgetown U.’s Rev. John Langan, SJ, Virginia legislator Robert McDonnell, Jude P. Dougherty, dean of the School of Philosophy, Catholic U. of America, and Bud Welch of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights. Available from CCG Initiative, National Pastoral Life Center, 18 Bleecker St., New York NY 10012 (www.nplc.org).
Dead Man Walking [motion picture, also available in video and DVD form]. Screenplay by Tim Robbins. Gramercy Pictures, 1995. 122 min. Adaptation of Sr. Helen Prejean’s book of the same name.
Florida Catholic Conference. Talking About the Death Penalty [Video, 13 min., available in both English and Spanish]. Features introductions by the state’s bishops; seeks to provide “an opportunity for Catholics and others to come together and talk” about the issue. Can be viewed on, and downloaded from, the FCC’s Web site, www.flacathconf.org
Indiana Catholic Conference. Talking About the Death Penalty [Video, 10 min.]. Features comments by Notre Dame U. law professor Charles Rice, the state’s bishops, others. Available from the Office of Family Life, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, 114 W. Wayne St., South Bend IN 46601.
Kentucky, Catholic Conference of. Capital Punishment: The Death of Morality [Video, 12 min.]. Targeted to middle and high school students, but also recommended as an introduction for adults interested in the topic. Discusses the issue from the viewpoints of both Catholic theology and pragmatic social policy. Includes study guide. Available from CCKY, 1042 Burlington Lane, Frankfort KY 40601.
McCaffrey, Terry. An Interview with Don Cabana: An Insider’s View of Capital Punishment [Video, 60 min.]. The former warden of Mississippi’s Parchman death row unit talks about his moral awakening to the horrors of the death penalty, the friendships he developed with inmates, and his inability to reconcile his Catholic faith with his role as executioner. Available from Terry McCaffrey, 11154 La Paloma Dr., Cupertino CA 95014.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death (Video/DVD, 15 min.). Based on the U.S. bishops’ 2005 statement of the same name. Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2006. ISBN 9781574557572. An accompanying discussion guide can be downloaded from www.usccbpublishing.org (click on “Video/ DVD Study Guides”).
BOOKLETS, STUDY GUIDES, ETC.
Comiskey, Paul W. Creating and Publicizing an Anti-Death Penalty Resolution for Your Parish. 2000. 50 pp. Privately printed; available from Paul W. Comiskey, 900 G St., #302, Sacramento CA 95814.
Costigan, Michael. The Death Penalty: Why Catholics Should Oppose It. N. Sydney, Australia: Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, 2000. ISBN 1864202157.
Dead Man Walking Study Packet. Philadelphia: American Friends Service Committee, Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty Project. 12 pp. Designed for use with group viewings of Dead Man Walking motion picture. Available from AFSC, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia PA 19102 (www. deathpenaltyreligious.org).
Judd, Augustine, OP. Catholics and Capital Punishment: The Morality of Capital Punishment According to Church Teaching. New Haven, CT: Knights of Columbus, 28 pp. (Publ. 302). Available from K. of C. Catholic Information Service, PO Box 1971, New Haven CT 06521. Can also be downloaded from www.kofc.org/faith/cis/ 302/cp.cfm.
Maryland Catholic Conference. Re-examining the Death Penalty. 2005. 54 pp. Designed to help clergy prepare homilies on the issue, to facilitate discussions by parish-based groups, and to encourage individual and community efforts to end the use of the death penalty. Available from MCC, 10 Francis St., Annapolis MD 21401 (www.mdcathcon.org).
McCormick, Pat. Catholic Wisdom on the Death Penalty. Chicago: Claretian Publications. 1997. 8 pp. Available from Claretian Publications, 205 W. Monroe St., Chicago IL 60606 (www.uscatholic.org).
Pax Christi USA. Breaking the Cycle of Violence: An Issue Packet on Abolishing the Death Penalty. 2005. Includes educational information, an 8-page brochure entitled “Sentenced to Die, Still Children of God,” excerpts from Catholic social teaching, information on the consistent life ethic, suggested prayer services, and action suggestions. Available from Pax Christi USA, 532 W. 8th St., Erie PA 16502 (www.paxchristiusa.org).
The Roundtable, Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors. Choose Life: Building Opposition to the Death Penalty. New York: National Pastoral Life Center, 2000. 32 pp. Practical tips in the areas of conversion, public awareness, and public advocacy. Available from NPLC, 18 Bleecker St., New York NY 10012 (www.nplc.org).
VATICAN AND PAPAL STATEMENTS
Catechism of the Catholic Church (see listing under “Books”)
Holy See, The, Secretariat of State. Declaration of the Holy See to the First World Congress on the Death Penalty, June 21, 2001, in Strasbourg, France, presented by Msgr. Paul Gallagher, special envoy to the Council of Europe. www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/documents/ rc_seg-st_doc_20010621_death-penalty_ en.html
John Paul II, Pope, et al. Excerpts from Statements by Pope John Paul II on the Death Penalty / Excerpts from Other Vatican Statements on the Death Penalty / Catechism of the Catholic Church Language on the Death Penalty. 2003. 6-page folder. Available from Catholics Against Capital Punishment, PO Box 5706, Bethesda MD 20824.
John Paul II, Pope. Statements by the Holy Father on the Death Penalty. Contains excerpts from the late pope’s Jan. 25, 1999 Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America; his Jan. 27, 1999 homily at the Papal Mass in St. Louis, MO; his Dec. 25, 1998 Christmas Message; and death-penalty-related passages from his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). www.usccb.org/ sdwp/national/criminal/stlouissmt.htm
John Paul II, Pope. Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 1995. 196 pp. ISBN 1555863167. Can also be downloaded from www.usccb.org/prolife/tdocs/evangel/ evangeli.htm
Martino, Renato R. Intervention by Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, at the 54th Session of the General Assembly on Item 116A, Abolition of the Death Penalty, Nov. 2, 1999, New York, N.Y. www.vatican. va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/ documents/rc_seg-st_doc_02111999_ death-penalty_en.html
U.S. BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE STATEMENTS AND INITIATIVES
Fiorenza, Joseph A. Statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ President on the Execution of Timothy McVeigh, June 11, 2001. www.usccb.org/ comm/archives/2001/01-104.htm
Mahony, Roger Cardinal. A Witness to Life: The Catholic Church and the Death Penalty. May 25, 2000 address at the National Press Club, Washington, DC. www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/criminal/ death/mahony1.htm
McCarrick, Theodore Cardinal. 101 Reasons to Abandon the Death Penalty. April 18, 2002 statement by chair of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Domestic Policy Committee on the occasion of the release of the 101st person from U.S. death rows since 1973. www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/ 101reasons.htm
National Jewish-Catholic Consultation. To End the Death Penalty: A Joint Statement of the NJCC (a group cosponsored by the National Council of Synagogues and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs), 1999. www.usccb.org/comm/ archives/1999/99-288.htm
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty (8-page brochure). Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1574557157.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty (2-page church bulletin insert). Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1574557238.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty (in Spanish). Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1574559192.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death. Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2005. 24pp. ISBN 1574557327. Can also be downloaded from www.usccb.org/sdwp/ national/penaltyofdeath.pdf
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death (DVD). (See lising under “Videos/DVDs”)
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Confronting a Culture of Violence: A Pastoral Message of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Washington, DC: USCCB, 1994. 36 pp. www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/ criminal/ccv94.htm
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (Administrative Board). A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty. Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 1999. 6-pp. ISBN 1574553275. Can also be downloaded from www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/ criminal/appeal.htm
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice. Washington, DC: USCCB Publishing, 2000. 64 pp. ISBN 1574553941. [Spanish version: 72 pp., ISBN 1574558463.] Includes a renewed call for an end to the death penalty. Can also be downloaded from www.usccb.org/sdwp/ criminal.htm
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Statement on Capital Punishment. Washington, DC: USCCB, 1980. 21 pp. ISBN 1555867405. Can also be downloaded from www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/criminal/ death/uscc80.htm
WEB SITES
Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty [www.ccedp.org]. A 2005 initiative of the U.S. Catholic Bishops.
Catholics Against Capital Punishment [www.cacp.org]. News of Catholic-oriented efforts to end the death penalty; text of the current edition of CACP News Notes (newsletter about developments in Church teachings and diocesan- and parish-based programs relating to the death penalty); links to papal and ecclesiastical statements on the issue; FAQs about the Church’s stance on capital punishment; and excerpts from Vatican documents and the Catholic Catechism.
Declaration of Life Statement [www. brooklynmercy.org/cherishlifecircle.html]. A legal document, designed to be signed and notarized, that enables a person to signify that, if he or she is ever a homicide victim, he or she does not want the murderer to be executed. Developed by the Sisters of Mercy Brooklyn (NY) Regional Community.
For Whom the Bells Toll [www.curenational. org/~bells]. An initiative encouraging Catholic parishes and other churches to toll their bells whenever an execution takes place. A 6-page brochure about the program is available from Madeline Murphy, 170 Monmouth Rd., Oakhurst NJ 07755 (MMurphy627@optonline.net).
National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors [www.nasccd.org]. A page on this site (www.nasccd.org/ DeathPenalty.htm), lists major statements on capital punishment issued by state Catholic Conferences. Another page (www.nasccd.org/StateConferences/Websitetable.htm) has links to the Web sites of individual state Catholic Conferences, many of which contain statements on the issue and news of their current anti-death penalty activities.
Religious Communities Against the Death Penalty [www.rcadp.org]. A network of women and men religious who oppose executions and who support the victims of crime and their families.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Diocesan Directory [www.usccb.org/ dioceses.shtml]. Site has links to the Web sites of all U.S. archdioceses and dioceses, many of which contain statements and news about their anti-death penalty activities.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Department of Social Development and World Peace [www.usccb.org/sdwp/ national/dea.htm]. Site contains links to major death-penalty-related statements by the USCCB and a number of those issued by state Catholic conferences and individual bishops.
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities [www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/cappunish/index.htm]. Contains articles from the Secretariat’s bimonthly Life Issues newsletter and its annual Respect Life Program packet for parishes.
STATE BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE STATEMENTS
Numerous statements and pastoral letters on the topic of the death penalty have been issued by individual bishops and state Catholic conferences over the years. To find those pertaining to your state, check the following list. For the postal addresses and Web site addresses of all U.S. Catholic dioceses, go to www.usccb.org/dioceses.shtml
Alabama: Archdiocese of Mobile, 400 Government St., Mobile AL 36602 (www.mobilearchdiocese.org); Diocese of Birmingham, 2121 3rd Ave. N., Birmingham AL 35202 (www.bhmdiocese.org).
Alaska Catholic Conference, 415 Sixth St. (#300), Juneau AK 99801-1091.
Arizona Catholic Conference, 400 E. Monroe St., Phoenix AZ 85004 (www.diocesephoenix.org).
Arkansas: Diocese of Little Rock, PO Box 7565, Little Rock AR 72217.
California Catholic Conference, 1119 K St. (2nd Fl.), Sacramento CA 95814-3904 (www.cacatholic.org).
Colorado Catholic Conference, 1535 Logan St., Denver CO 80203-1913 (www.cocatholicconference.org)
Connecticut Catholic Conference, 134 Farmington Ave., Hartford CT 06105-3723 (www.ctcatholic.org).
Delaware: Diocese of Wilmington, PO Box 2030, Wilmington DE 19899 (www.cdow.org).
District of Columbia Catholic Conference, PO Box 29260, Washington DC 20017 (www.adw.org).
Florida Catholic Conference, 201 W. Park Ave., Tallahassee FL 32301 (www. flacathconf.org).
Georgia Catholic Conference, 3600 Mansell Rd. (#300), Alpharetta GA 30022.
Hawaii Catholic Conference, 1184 Bishop St., Honolulu HI 96813.
Idaho: Diocese of Boise, 303 Federal Way, Boise ID 83705 (www.catholicidaho.org).
Illinois, Catholic Conference of, 65 E. Wacker Pl. (#1620), Chicago IL 60601 (www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org).
Indiana Catholic Conference, PO Box 1410, Indianapolis IN 46206-1410 (www.indianacc.org).
Iowa Catholic Conference, 530 42nd St., Des Moines IA 50312 (www.iowacatholicconference.org).
Kansas Catholic Conference, 6301 Antioch Rd., Merriam KS 66202-3600 (www.kansas.nasccd.org).
Kentucky, Catholic Conference of, 1042 Burlington Lane, Frankfort KY 40601 (www.ccky.org).
Louisiana Catholic Conference, 3423 Hundred Oaks Ave., Baton Rouge LA 70808 (www.louisiana.nasccd.org).
Maine: Diocese of Portland, PO Box 11559, Portland ME 04104-7559 (www. portlanddiocese.net).
Maryland Catholic Conference, 10 Francis St., Annapolis MD 21401 (www.mdcathcon. org).
Massachusetts Catholic Conference, 150 Staniford St. (1st Fl.), Boston MA 02114-2511 (www.macathconf.org).
Michigan Catholic Conference, 510 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing MI 48933 (www.micatholicconference.org).
Minnesota Catholic Conference, 475 University Ave. W. (Ste. B), St. Paul MN 55103-1996 (www.mncc.org).
Mississippi: Diocese of Biloxi, 1790 Popps Ferry Rd., Biloxi MS 39532 (www.biloxidiocese.org); Diocese of Jackson, PO Box 2248, Jackson MS 39225 (www. jacksondiocese.org).
Missouri Catholic Conference, PO Box 1022, Jefferson City MO 65102-1022 (www.mocatholic.org).
Montana Catholic Conference, PO Box 1708, Helena MT 59624-1708.
Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South (#310), Lincoln NE 68508-1813 (www.nebcathcon.org).
Nevada Catholic Conference, 290 S. Arlington Ave. (#200), Reno NV 89501.
New Hampshire: Diocese of Manchester, PO Box 310, Manchester NH 03105-0310 (www.catholicchurchnh.org).
New Jersey Catholic Conference, 149 N. Warren St., Trenton NJ 08608 (www. njcathconf.com).
New Mexico Catholic Conference, 4000 St. Joseph’s Pl. N.W., Albuquerque NM 87120.
New York State Catholic Conference, 465 State St., Albany NY 12203-1004 (www.nyscatholic.org).
North Carolina: Diocese of Raleigh, 715 Nazareth St., Raleigh NC 27606-2100 (www.raldioc.org).
North Dakota Catholic Conference, 103 S. 3rd St. (#10), Bismarck ND 58501 (www. ndcatholic.org).
Ohio, Catholic Conference of, 9 E. Long St., Columbus OH 43215 (www.ohiocathconf. org).
Oklahoma: Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, PO Box 32180, Oklahoma City OK 73123 (www.catharchdioceseok.org); Diocese of Tulsa, PO Box 690240, Tulsa OK 74169 (www.dioceseoftulsa.org).
Oregon Catholic Conference, 2838 E. Burnside St., Portland OR 97214 (www. archpdx.org).
Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, 223 North St., PO Box 2835, Harrisburg PA 17105-2835 (www.pacatholic.org).
Rhode Island: Diocese of Providence, 1 Cathedral Square, Providence RI 02903 (www.dioceseofprovidence.org).
South Carolina: Diocese of Charleston, PO Box 818, Charleston SC 29402 (www. catholic-doc.org).
South Dakota: Diocese of Sioux Falls, 523 N. Duluth Ave., Sioux Falls SD 57104-2714 (www.diocese-of-sioux-falls.org).
Tennessee Catholic Public Policy Commission, 128 Allendale Dr., Nashville TN 37205.
Texas Catholic Conference, 1625 Rutherford Lane (Bldg. D), Austin TX 78754 (www.txcatholic.org).
Utah: Diocese of Salt Lake City, 27 C St., Salt Lake City UT 84103 (www.dioslc.org).
Vermont: Diocese of Burlington, PO Box 489, Burlington VT 05402 (www.vermontcatholic.org).
Virginia Catholic Conference, 830 E. Main St., #302, Richmond VA 23219 (www.vacatholic.org).
Washington Catholic Conference, 508 2nd Ave. W., Seattle WA 98119-3928 (www.thewscc.org).
Wisconsin Catholic Conference, 131 W. Wilson St. (#1105), Madison WI 53703 (www.wisconsincatholic.org).
West Virginia Catholic Conference, 1300 Byron St., PO Box 230, Wheeling WV 26003.
Wyoming: Diocese of Cheyenne, PO Box 1468, Cheyenne WY 82003 (www.dioceseofcheyenne.org).
Compiled August 2006 by Catholics Against Capital Punishment, PO Box 5706, Bethesda MD 20824 (www.cacp.org). Permission is granted to all to reprint this material in full or in part. |
