Cynthia Bolbach, Moderator of the 219th General Assembly (2010), responded thoughtfully to the recent execution of Troy Davis by the state of Georgia.

She states a question first put to her by the Reverend James Kim, of Lakewood, Washington: “Why don’t we as a church mobilize on the issue of capital punishment the way we have mobilized around the issues regarding the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians, or the way we have mobilized around the issues of Israel and Palestine?”

She continues:

Is it because Presbyterians are, in fact, united in opposition to capital punishment, whereas we’re divided on ordination standards and Israel/Palestine? And is it because we’re divided that we spend our time and energy persuading those within the church to agree with us – leaving us with a lack of time and energy to speak to the rest of the world on issues we do agree upon, like capital punishment?

Our prophetic witness on this issue is needed now more than ever – a time when people cheer because Rick Perry says he has no qualms about the number of persons executed in Texas.     More >>

Thanks to People of Faith Against the Death Penalty for this announcement.
[9-15-10]

People of Faith Against the Death Penalty is an interfaith national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and mobilize faith communities to act to abolish the death penalty in the United States. They are organizing an upcoming national conference in Atlanta on November 16 & 17 called Kairos Conference: Discerning Justice & Taking Action on America’s Death Penalty

They invite you to join conference chair and Dead Man Walking author Sr. Helen Prejean, Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador Bianca Jagger, world-renowned speakers, and leaders of national, state, and local faith communities and groups for an inspirational and educational experience.

The conference will begin on Tuesday, November 16 at 9 a.m. , and is scheduled to conclude at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 17.

The Kairos Conference:
Discerning Justice & Taking Action on America's Death Penalty
Emory Conference Center, Atlanta, GA
November 16 & 17, 2010

[from the office of Rep. Kucinich. http://www.kucinich.house.gov/ ]

WASHINGTON - December 14 - Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), today, introduced legislation to abolish the federal death penalty. The Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2005, currently co-sponsored by 39 Members of Congress, will put an immediate halt to executions and forbid the imposition of the death penalty as a sentence for violations of federal law.

"The death penalty is not an effective deterrent," stated Kucinich. "Homicide rates in states with the death penalty are no lower than rates in abolitionist states. Of the twelve states without the death penalty, ten have murder rates below the national average."

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, 122 men and women have been released from death row due to evidence of innocence. In addition, an audit released in late 2003 found that death penalty cases in Kansas cost significantly more than comparable non-death penalty incarcerations. The median cost for a death penalty case was $1.26 million while the median cost for a non-death penalty case was $740,000. Imposition of the death penalty is also racially and economically biased.

"I strongly believe that violent offenders must be severely punished and prevented from committing future crimes," continued Kucinich. "However, capital punishment is not the answer. The death penalty is not a deterrent, allows innocent people to be executed, and marginalizes the United States in the fight for human rights in the international community."

Joining Kucinich on the bill are Reps. Neil Abercrombie, Michael Capuano, William Lacy Clay, Emanuel Cleaver, John Conyers, Elijah Cummings, Danny Davis, William Delahunt, Sam Farr, Bob Filner, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, Alcee Hastings, Maurice Hinchey, Michael Honda, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Dale Kildee, Carolyn Kilpatrick, James Langevin, Barbara Lee, John Lewis, James McGovern, Cynthia McKinney, Edward Markey, Gregory Meeks, Gwen Moore, James Oberstar, John Olver, Major Owens, Charles Rangel, Bobby Rush, Jose Serrano, Pete Stark, Edolphus Towns, Nydia Velazquez, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, Melvin Watt, and Lynn Woolsey.

**************

Supreme Court bars death penalty for juvenile killers

Washington Office provides background

[10-15-02]

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in four death penalty cases this term raising a number of procedural questions affecting the fairness of death penalty trials. On October 16, 2002 the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Miller-El v. Cockrell. Miller-El is challenging his death sentence arguing that the outcome in his case was tainted by racial bias. In 1986 when he was tried for capital murder in Texas, Dallas county prosecutors intentionally excluded African Americans from juries. The Supreme Court could use this case to clarify rules for proving race discrimination in capital cases, including the evidence that lower courts may consider.

On November 4, 2002, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Sattazhn v. Pennsylvania. Here the Court will decide whether the Constitution permits a defendant to be sentenced to death on retrial, when his first capital trial resulted in a life sentence because the jury could not agree on a death sentence. Sattazhn is arguing that his death sentence at his second trial is violation of the constitutional prohibition against putting a defendant twice in jeopardy of losing his life.

On November 6, 2002, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Addur'Rahman v. Bell. The Court must decide when new developments in a criminal case may be heard in federal court. In Abdur'Rahman's case he argues that prosecutorial misconduct and the incompetence of his trial attorney prevented the jury from hearing critical evidence that might have led a jury to find him not guilty or if convicted to decide that a death sentence was not appropriate.

Finally the Court will hear arguments in the case of Woodford v. Garceau. In that case the Court will decide when the provisions of the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) would be applied to cases that were pending when the statute was enacted. This law hassignificantly restricted federal court review in criminal cases including death penalty cases.

The September/October issue of REPORT to Presbyterians from Washington, contained an article about a death penalty bill still pending in the Senate. You can view the article online at http://www.pcusa.org/washington/sep_oct02.htm#3 .

[8-2-02]

The Christian Science Monitor reports that before the pope arrived in Guatemala, the Vatican delivered a letter asking the country's president to put a moratorium on the death penalty. The president did that and more, issuing a formal request to Congress that the death penalty be abolished. If the Guatemalan Congress goes along, then Cuba will be the only Spanish-speaking country in the Americas that still has the death penalty.

A COMMENT FROM YOUR WEBWEAVER: What does this suggest about Justice Antonin Scalia's assertion recently [link] that only the U.S. is Christian enough (in contrast to Europe and all those other secular cultures) to uphold the death penalty? Good grief, now the Pope has become a champion of secularization!?!

NCADP calls for immediate, nationwide halt to executions

Note that the PCUSA has long stood in opposition to the death penalty, and the Washington Office suggests acting now on legislation that would call for a moratorium on its imposition.

from the Presbyterian Washington Office, April 9, 2002

Presbyterian background on the death penalty

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is affiliated with the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. The Presbyterian Church General Assemblies in 1959, 1966, 1977 and 1985 all called for the abolition of the death penalty, "believing that capital punishment cannot be condoned by an interpretation of the Bible based upon the revelation of God's love in Jesus Christ, that as Christians we must seek the redemption of evil doers and not their death, and that the use of the death penalty tends to brutalize the society that condones it" (1959 statement, UPCUSA, p. 384). The Presbyterian Church (USA) is currently working with Senator Russ Feingold's office on soliciting cosponsors for S. 233 The Death Penalty Moratorium Act. Advocates can contact their own Senators and urge them to support S.233 through the switchboard number--202-224-3121.

============================

A note from the Presbyterian Washington Office

Date: 2/6/02

[Posted here 2-8-02]

==========================

The American people understand that the death penalty system is broken, and they are looking to their elected officials for answers. In 2002, The Justice Project will continue to remind voters of how bad the system really is, and help find and implement solutions to those problems.

Evidence of the Problem 99 innocent people have been exonerated from death row since the Supreme Court ruled capital punishment constitutional in the 1970s. The 100th innocent person will probably be released this spring. The Justice Project will do all that it can to draw attention to this shameful milestone.

In February, Professor James Liebman of Columbia University Law School will release the follow-up to his landmark study on the death penalty. His first study, which came out in mid-2000, found 68% of all death penalty appeals are overturned. His new work addresses the reason for this frighteningly high error rate. The Justice Project will work to make sure the report receives as much attention as possible.

Federal Measures

The Justice Project continues to work to pass the Innocence Protection Act. The bill, which requires access to DNA testing, encourages states to establish minimum standards for defense lawyers, and takes other important steps to protect the innocent, currently has 25 cosponsors in the US Senate and 216 in the US House. We hope to move the bill through committee and onto the floor of the House and Senate this spring and summer. For this important bill to become law, we will all have to work both harder and smarter, letting our legislators know how important basic fairness and justice are. The United States Supreme Court is taking up several important death penalty measures this spring. Most notably, they are considering Atkins v. Virginia, in which the Court will re-visit the question of the Constitutionality of executing those with mental retardation. The Justice Project is working with the lead attorney on the case on political and press strategies.

In the States

Most death penalty laws are state laws - and that's where we are spending a lot of time and energy. We are trying to pass good laws this year, and also looking ahead to 2003. We are working in a number of states, doing whatever we can. Legislatures are just gearing up for the 2002 sessions, and The Justice Project is gearing up with them.

All we can hope to do is help. Change will not be made by us, but by dedicated volunteers around the country. All we can do is offer our advice and do some research and writing. The hard work, the winning work, will be done by activists.

Some of the highlights of our work in the states are:

Alabama - There are two primary issues in Alabama in which The Justice Project is interested. First, we are working with the Equal Justice Initiative to ensure those on death row have lawyers for their constitutionally guaranteed appeals - currently, there are men and women on Alabama's death row without any legal representation at all. We are also working with the Equal Justice Initiative to ban the practice of "judicial override" which allows judges to unilaterally overturn jury decisions to sentence someone to life, rather than death. About one quarter of those on Alabama's death row were sent there by judges who overruled jury decisions to not sentence someone to death.

Georgia - The Justice Project is working with the Southern Center for Human Rights to help Georgians understand the problems of providing lawyers for the poor in the state, especially when it comes to the death penalty. We are also working to help turn that understanding into legislation addressing the problem.

Illinois - Governor George Ryan's death penalty commission is slated to release its report on capital punishment in the state this spring. The Justice Project will work to publicize this important document. In addition, we are working with the Illinois Death Penalty Education Project (ILDPEP) to both help people understand the broken system, and promote solutions to those problems.

We are also working to help pass a ban on the execution of the mentally retarded, which will help the Supreme Court case on the constitutionality of the practice.

Nevada - The Nevada legislature is holding a series of hearings on the fairness of the death penalty in the state. The Justice Project is working with local activists to help shape those hearings, and will work to pass reform legislation when the legislature reconvenes in 2003.

Oregon - The Justice Project is working with a coalition of national organizations to assist an effort to place on the fall, 2002 ballot (and ultimately pass) a referendum replacing the death penalty with life in prison.

Texas - The Texas legislature meets every other year, and will be back in 2003. The Justice Project is working with a coalition of grassroots groups this year to make an impact next year. Bills on with which we are helping include: a moratorium on executions, life without parole as a sentencing option, and improving the quality of legal defense for the poor.

Stop Wrongful Executions, Support a Moratorium!

[This ACLU statement has been shared by the Presbyterian Washington Office, dated 1/23//02}

[1-23-02]

Both supporters and opponents of the death penalty are concerned about the flaws in the system by which the government imposes sentences of death. More and more Americans agree that there are enough serious concerns about fairness and accuracy in the imposition of the death penalty that there should be a moratorium on the use of the death penalty until these fundamental concerns are addressed.

Since the reinstatement of the modern death penalty, 95 people have been freed from death row because they were later proven innocent. That's 1 innocent person for every 7 persons executed. And a recent study found that 2 of every 3 death penalty cases contain errors so severe that the death sentences and convictions are overturned.

Before one more federal execution is carried out, the federal government has an obligation to ensure that the sentence of death will be imposed with justice, fairness and due process.

To address this concern, Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) have introduced the "National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2001" (S. 233, H.R. 1038). This legislation would impose a moratorium on federal executions while creating a National Commission on the Death Penalty to review fairness in the administration of capital punishment.

Forum set for Chicago, Friday, January 25^th

Politicians, religious leaders and scholars will offer diverse perspectives

[1-17-02]

January 15, 2002 -- In the past year, debate over the use of the death penalty in the U.S. has become louder and more focused as the first federal executions since 1963 took place. While public support for the death penalty remains strong, it has fallen from a high of 77% five years ago to 63% in 2001. And more than 4 in 10 death penalty opponents cite religious belief as an influence on their position.

In light of this ongoing debate, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life will hold a conference, "A Call for Reckoning: Religion and the Death Penalty," that will bring together diverse panels of scholars and practitioners, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating and Avery Cardinal Dulles. Panelists will discuss the broad range of views on the death penalty offered by representative faiths and traditions in the U.S.

What: Conference to discuss broad range of religious views on death penalty

Where: The University of Chicago Divinity School, Swift Hall 1025 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL

When: Friday, January 25, 2002, 9a.m. - 5p.m.

Who:

For more information or to attend, visit www.pewforum.org/deathpenalty or call (773) 702-6943.

Contact: Amy Sullivan, phone (202) 955-5077.

Please note: Justice Scalia's presentation will not be open to video cameras. All other conference proceedings will be available for all types of media coverage.

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life seeks to promote a deeper understanding of how religion shapes the ideas and institutions of American society. The Forum bridges the worlds of scholarship, public policy and journalism by creating a platform for research and discussion of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs.

Prof. Alan J. Ryan of Oxford University, a leading political theorist who spoke at Cleveland State University, suggested that American religiosity seems to be a major factor in our country's acceptance of -- even enthusiasm for -- the death penalty.

According to the report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ryan examined pro-death penalty Web sites, and found most of them appealing to biblical verses to justify state-sanctioned killing as retribution, even though most denominations oppose capital punishment.

Ryan noted also that there is no statistical evidence that imposition of the death penalty does anything to deter crime, pointing to the availability of guns and other factors as far more important.

"The death penalty is ruled out by pretty much every international declaration of human rights there is," he said. "It makes it hard for the United States to sign these documents. American enthusiasm for capital punishment strikes most everyone in Europe as crazy as well as wicked."


Click here for the whole story.


Thanks to onReligion.com for this story.

There are 12 U.S. states that do not impose the death penalty. A study published by the New York Times on 9/22/00 suggests that homicide rates are no higher in states without the death penalty than they are in states that do. In fact, 10 of these 12 states have homicide rates below the national average.

Click here for the Times story.

Note: You have to register to access NYTimes pages, but it's a painless (and costless!) process.

Click here for an earlier story on the death penalty.

Europeans Baffled by U.S. Support of Death Penalty

Other nations' protests of capital punishment in the land of the free and of democracy prove ineffective.


An April 6, 2000, report by LA Times staff writer Carol J. Williams, writing from Muenster, Germany, points out that the continuing support of capital punishment by Americans is baffling to Europeans. They note that the US stands with a select few nations that continue to impose the death penalty: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and China and a few others ... countries whose records on human rights we criticize harshly.

Klaus Langmann, a Muenster University mathematics professor and co-founder of Amnesty International in Germany, is quoted as saying "This is baffling for us. While countries like Russia and Turkey are agreeing to abolish the death penalty, the United States, which has always claimed to stand for democracy, freedom and morality, still refuses to do so."

Thanks to onReligion.com

GA actions ratified (or not) by  the presbyteries   

A number of the most important actions of the 219^th General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries, confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.

We provided resources to help inform the reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.

Our three areas of primary interest have been:

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PVJ's Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, PVJ's Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!

Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

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