“The right to life is the very foundation of all other rights….we affirm that the dignity of a person is not lost even after various serious crimes have been committed.”
Pope Leo XIV (Video)
In the wake of Pope Leo offering his support to those advocating for the abolition of the death penalty in the U.S., Fr. Alfredo Ocampo, CP, and Laudato Si’ chair Lissa Romell had the blessing of meeting Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, and hearing her speak.
For over three decades, Sr. Helen, perhaps best known for her book Dead Man Walking, has ministered to those on death row and worked untiringly to abolish capital punishment. The new graphic novel edition of the book brings her message of mercy and justice to life in a fresh way.
“It is easy to forgive the innocent. It is the guilty who test our morality. People are more than the worst thing they have ever done.”
Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ
Sr. Helen’s life and words are inspiration to us all to ponder more deeply the mystery of the Passion at work in the world today: “I saw the suffering and I let myself feel it… I saw the injustice and was compelled to do something about it. I changed from being a nun who only prayed for the suffering world to a woman with my sleeves rolled up, living my prayer.” (Source)
