Take Action!

 

Support Florida Bills to End Use of the Death Penalty

 

Your voice matters. House Bill 6013 “Death Penalty” and Senate Bill 472 “Death Penalty” have been introduced in the 2019 Florida Legislature. This legislation needs your support. Please contact your Florida State Senator or Representative and ask them to support these “Death Penalty” bills. These bills would end the use of Florida’s Death Penalty. Florida’s Death Penalty program is wasteful, costly, and unnecessary. It risks the execution of innocent people. 28 people on Florida’s Death Row have been exonerated and released thus far. There are more. You can find your legislator by clicking here. Your voice matters.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

End Florida’s Death Penalty!

 

PCF is committed to bringing an end to Florida’s use of the Death Penalty…please support this effort!

 

Photo and list of Florida’s Exonerated Death Row Prisoners from FADP.

 

PRAY-STUDY-ACT

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!                                                                     – Deut. 30:19

 

PRAY

Using the following prayer pray by Sr. Helen Prejean, daily for those on death row; for the family and friends of their victims and for an end to Florida’s use of the death penalty.

 

God of Compassion,

You let your rain fall on the just and the unjust.

Expand and deepen our hearts

so that we may love as You love

even those among us

who have caused the greatest pain by taking life.

For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance

as we fill up death rows and kill the killers

in the name of justice, in the name of peace.

 

Jesus, our brother,

you suffered execution at the hands of the state

but you did not let hatred overcome you.

Help us to reach out to victims of violence

so that our enduring love may help them heal.

 

Holy Spirit of God,

You strengthen us in the struggle for justice.

Help us to work tirelessly

for the abolition of state-sanctioned death

and to renew our society in its very heart

so that violence will be no more.

Amen.

 

 STUDY

Form a study group in your parish or community – familiarize yourself with the true facts about Florida death penalty.

 

For death penalty resources: 

• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops  (http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/death-penalty-capital-punishment/ )
• Florida Catholic Conference (http://www.flacathconf.org/lifeanddeath/deathpenalty/index.php
• Pax Christi Florida (https://paxchristiflorida.org/resources/) 

 

 

ACT

Contact Gov. Scott – each one of us can make a difference.  It is important that Gov. DeSantis hear from as many Floridians as possible. 

                        Gov. Ron DeSantis

                        The Capitol 

                        400 S. Monroe St. 

                        Tallahassee, FL 32399

 

  

                        Phone: 850-488-7146 

                        Fax: 850-487-0801 

                        Email: ron.desantis@eog.myflorida.com

 

Write a Letter to the Editor– an effective way to reach thousands. Email or write letters to your local Catholic and secular newspapers with your concerns about Florida’s death penalty.  It would be good to point out that Florida leads the nation in the number of condemned death row inmates who have been exonerated.

 

Organize a Deathwatch Prayer Vigil   – Florida is signing death warrants at an alarming rate!  The time is NOW for those of us who oppose Florida’s death penalty to stand up and be counted!  Bring your message to the streets whenever an execution is schedule to be carried out in the name of the people of State of Florida.  Resources are available on Pax Christi Florida’s Resource Page (see above).