Statement on the Death Penalty

Congregation of Divine Providence, Melbourne, KY

We, Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence of Melbourne, Kentucky, stand in opposition to capital punishment in our nation. We pledge to work for the abolition of the death penalty wherever it occurs.

Our Province Focus Statement (1999-2004) calls us “to bring the message and values of the Gospel to bear upon the real situations of our times”. At this time in history, when life is often devalued, faithfulness to the Gospel demands that we affirm the sacredness of all life and condemn the deliberate taking of life.

As we value the life of those who have committed acts of terrible violence, we reach out to the families and friends of the victims of these acts holding them in our prayer and concern. We will do what we can to ease their suffering.

We hold as our model Jesus Christ who forgave those who took His human life on the cross. We pledge to work toward genuine forgiveness in our own lives.