Calif Death Penalty: The Catalyst, 6/99 - RESPONSE REQUESTED
Eli Rosenblatt
T H E C A T A L Y S T
A monthly bulletin about social issues and
the death penalty in California
June 21, 1999 Vol. II, Issue No. 34
Make your 'Statement of Conscience.'
People the length and breadth of California are endorsing the 'Statement of
Conscience' calling for abolition of capital punishment. Drafted by
California People of Faith Working Against the Death Penalty, signers
include leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other religious
faiths, and just plain folks who oppose state-sanctioned killing. Please
return your endorsement of the 'Statement of Conscience' to DPF today. We
will use it in our statewide campaign to inform public officials and the
media about growing support for a moratorium-and eventual abolition-of the
death penalty.
STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
"We are deeply disturbed by violent crime and are grieved by the suffering
of its victims. Our hearts and hands reach out to those victims and their
families, and we acknowledge the natural fear created by the violence in
many of our communities. We affirm that the people in our communities are
entitled to protection from those who would do harm...
"We acknowledge that violent actions have consequences, that offenders
should be held accountable, and that communities need ways to find healing.
We affirm that restitution to victims and their loved ones and
rehabilitation of the offender should be our goals rather than punishment
meted out for its own sake or in a spirit of vengeance...
"In that spirit we reaffirm the strong teachings of our respective faith
communities which hold that capital punishment is not an appropriate
response to these problems. We believe that the death penalty is morally
untenable, particularly when we have the means necessary to protect
ourselves from those who would kill. Violence is simply not the answer to
the problem of violence...
"This is a key moment in the history of our state. California now has the
largest death row in the United States and continues to expand the
categories of capital crimes at an alarming rate. Legislation is currently
proposed which would truncate the appeals process and lead to a significant
increase in the number of executions. These changes could loose an
onslaught of executions which could, by necessity, include the mentally
retarded and those with other mental dysfunction, children, those poorly
represented in court, and the innocent...
"We pledge to maintain a strong voice of opposition to the death penalty
and to work for its abolition. We will encourage our fellow Californians to
oppose efforts to expand the number of capital prosecutions and executions.
We will educate our religious communities about the death penalty and its
alternatives, such as life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
and restitution to the family of the victim.
"Together we call upon California's elected leaders to put an end to
state-sanctioned killing. Furthermore, we call upon our sisters and
brothers in our faith communities to join us in working toward the
abolition of the death penalty. Finally, we invite all people of good will
to join us in choosing moral courage over fear and creative solutions over
ineffective responses to questions of violent crime and punishment.
"Together we can create truly just solutions that respect the human dignity
of each and every member of society."
SIGNED,
Name:
Signature (for return via fax):
Affiliation/Title:
Email:
Phone:
PLEASE RETURN YOUR ENDORSED STATEMENT TO DPF AT IN...@DEATHPENALTY.ORG,
OR VIA FAX TO 415-243-0994. THANK YOU.
If you wish to stop receiving this bulletin, please reply with STOP
CATALYST in the subject line.
Death Penalty Focus of California
74 New Montgomery Street, Suite 250
San Francisco, CA 94105
ph: 415-243-0143, fax: 415-243-0994
Los Angeles Hotline: 213-673-3693
in...@deathpenalty.org; www.deathpenalty.org
President: Mike Farrell, Executive Director: Lance Lindsey
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