The Atlantic-Midwest and Central Pacific Provinces of the School Sisters of Notre Dame affirm and support the October 9 statement from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) on its stance against violence in all its forms, including the death penalty. Recognizing life as “God’s sacred gift,” the statement asserts the “importance of due process and accountability for those who have committed grave offenses, while rejecting the taking of human life as a response to wrongdoing.”
We join LCWR in its opposition to the use of public and social media opposition to the use of public media and social media to broadcast, distribute, or sensationalize the execution of any person, calling on all people to refuse to watch, share, or circulate such content.
“During this Respect Life Month, especially on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, we invite our members, associates, partners in mission, and all people of goodwill to renew their commitment to protecting life, respecting human dignity, and rejecting violence in both word and action,” the statement reads. “We invite you to gather in prayer for all those facing execution, for victims of violence and their families, and for the transformation of hearts and systems that perpetuate violence. May our shared prayer deepen our commitment to the Gospel and strengthen our witness to a world in which justice, mercy, and the dignity of every human being are upheld.”
To read a full copy of the statement from LCWR, visit https://www.lcwr.org/news/lcwr-statement-on-the-dignity-of-human-life-and-nonviolence