National Weekend of Faith in Action Resources

» Ideas for Activities
» Faith Communities Speaking Out Against the Death Penalty

I. RESOURCES FOR REFLECTION

1. Sermons
   • Capital Punishment: Is It Theologically Acceptable for Christians? – UMC (MS Word)
   • The Right to Life: A Sermon on the Death Penalty – UMC (PDF | MS Word)
   • Execution of Jesus: Good Friday, 33 A.D.; Execution of R. Robbins & M. Pruett: April 12, 1999 – Catholic
   • A Yom Kippur Reflection on the Death Penalty – Jewish
   • A Sermon for Kol Nidrei Evening – Jewish (PDF | MS Word)
   • The Law of Love – UU
   • The Death Penalty – UU
   • An Eye for an Eye? – UU (PDF | MS Word)
   • The Forgotten Ones – UU (PDF | MS Word)
   • Not in My Name, Seeking Justice or Revenge – UU (PDF | MS Word)
2. Prayers & Services
   • Prayer Service – Execution Watch
   • A Prayer for Murder Victims' Families (PDF | MS Word)
   • National Weekend of Faith in Action Interfaith Service (PDF | MS Word)
   • Restorative Justice Mass (PDF | MS Word)
3. Essays
   • Introduction: The King?s Good Servants: Catholics as Participants in Capital Litigation – Art C. Cody (PDF)
   • The Healing Power of Forgiveness – Bill Pelke (PDF | MS Word)
   • New York Religious Leaders Against the Death Penalty Interfaith Statement on Capital Punishment (PDF | MS Word)
   • Does Judaism Condone Capital Punishment? – Jewish (PDF | MS Word)
   • Restorative or Retributive Justice? Transforming the U.S. Criminal Justice System – General Board of Global Ministries (PDF | MS Word)
   • Why Ending the Death Penalty is Still Critical For Us As Dharma Practitioners – Buddhist
     (PDF | MS Word)
   • Renewing Our Call to End the Death Penalty – Catholic (PDF | MS Word)
   • The Capital Punishment – Muslim (PDF | MS Word)
   • General Board of Church and Society Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Methodist Church's Opposition to the Death Penalty – Methodist (PDF | MS Word)
   • You can go online for more essays on religion and the death penalty, please see:
     A Call for Reckoning: Religion and the Death Penalty (Pew Forum conference resources)
4. What Religious Groups and People of Faith Have Said about the Death Penalty (PDF | MS Word)
5. Quotes about the Death Penalty (PDF | MS Word)
6. Abolitionist Newspaper Editorials and Editorial Excerpts (PDF | MS Word)
7. Abolitionist Editorials Quotes (PDF | MS Word)
8. Fact Sheets (PDF)

II. RESOURCES FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION

1. How to Find Speakers on the Death Penalty (PDF | MS Word)
2. Film Discussion Guides
   • Deadline
   • Dead Man Walking
   • The Empty Chair
   • Race to Execution
   • Films on the Death Penalty (PDF | MS Word)
3. How to Pass a Resolution on the Death Penalty (PDF | MS Word)
4. Media Work
   • How to Move Your Messages in the Media (PDF | MS Word)
   • Sample NWFA Media Advisory (PDF | MS Word)
5. How to Create a Supportive Space for Discussion (PDF | MS Word)
6. Tough Questions: Discussing the Death Penalty with Capital Punishment Supporters (PDF | MS Word)

III. RESOURCES FOR NEXT STEPS

1. Ways to Provide Support to Those Impacted by the Death Penalty (PDF | MS Word)
2. How to Lobby (PDF | MS Word)

IV. GENERAL RESOURCES

1. Contacts
   • Contact the State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator (SDPAC) in your state
   • Other state, national and international organizations
2. Death Penalty Resources: Reports, Books, Videos, etc. (PDF | MS Word)
3. Death Penalty Curriculum Guide (PDF)

V. ORGANIZING FOR THE NATIONAL WEEKEND OF FAITH IN ACTION AND BEYOND (PDF)

VI. VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH AN EXECUTIONER

RESOURCES

NWFA Resource page

Organizing Guide (PDF)

RELATED WEBSITES

American Friends Service Committee

Catholics Against Capital Punishment

Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries

United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society: Death Penalty