Federal Executions Pit The Trump Administration Against The Catholic Church
For the ninth time in six months, the Trump administration is preparing to put a federal prisoner to death. Read full piece
The Death Grip of Rulers
President Donald Trump will leave the White House next month after overseeing a deadly year of federal executions. We should pause and reflect on this moment. After all, our government conducts this killing spree in our names and with our resources.
William Barr & the Politics of Death
We are not executing the ‘worst of the worst,’ as some may believe, but the poorest of the poor, and disproportionately people of color. And a supposedly pro-life administration is rushing to execute more people with just two months left in office.
Federal Executions are One More Example of Trump Administration Overreach
Christian author and activist Shane Claiborne critiques the resumption of federal executions in July as three people were killed after 17 years without a single federal execution.
‘Immoral.’ ‘Unnecessary.’ ‘Cruel.’ First Federal Execution in 17 Years Sparks Outcry
The federal government carried out the execution of Daniel Lewis Lee, 47, Tuesday morning following a 2 a.m. U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Faith leaders were quick to decry it. Read full piece
More Than 1,000 Faith Leaders Urge Trump to Stop Executions
A statement opposing the federal government’s plan to execute four inmates was issued July 7. Signed by over 1,000 faith leaders from multiple traditions, it asks the Trump administration to halt the four federal executions scheduled for July and August.
Death Row Inmate Hopes Courts will Allow Chaplain at Execution
Charles L. Burton Jr. doesn’t want to be alone when he dies. He filed suit last year after the state of Alabama denied a Muslim inmate from having an imam serve as a spiritual adviser at his execution, citing state policy that only allowed Christian
Death in the Middle of Death: On the Execution of Walter Barton
It’s been over two months (75 days to be exact) since we’ve had an execution. There are only two other times since the turn of the century the state has gone that long without executing someone. But last Tuesday (May 19), that pause came to
The Hero of the Film ‘Just Mercy’ Could Be You
(RNS) — “Protecting our hope” means never losing hope that love is more powerful than hatred, life more powerful than death, mercy more powerful than condemnation. As Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson says, “We are all more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
Let’s Not Ask Botham Jean’s Family to Choose Forgiveness Over Justice
(RNS) — Sometimes it can feel like you are better off being white and guilty in America than black and innocent. We live in a world where black lives are too easily extinguished and white lives are too easily excused.