“sx | ABOLITION NOW!
Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
P.O. Box 3092 Louisville Kentucky 40201-3092
(502) 636-1330 email: kcadp@earthlink.net website: www.kcadp.org
God Withdraws Support for Death Penalty;
Too Many Innocent Persons Face Execution in U. S.
Dale S. Recinella, an attorney who serves as a state-certified spiritual counselor and Catholic lay chaplain for
Florida's prison system, has written a marvelous book, The Biblical Truth About America’s Death Penalty. In this
close reading of Hebrew and Christian scriptures, he compares biblical teaching about the death penalty, including
such passages as "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life," with the nation's current system of capital punishment,
and offers persuasive arguments for a faith-based moratorium — and eventual abolition — of executions. Mr. Re-
cinella will visit Kentucky for KCADP’s annual meeting, Saturday, October 22. Please hold that date. More info later.
Mary and Randy Baron of Louisville heard Sister Helen Prejean speak about her new book,
The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Convictions, in February at Bel-
larmine University. Moved by her words, they became involved in KCADP and picked her latest
release for their book club discussion group.
Death of The following is Mary's view of picking capital punishment books and why it’s important to
get people talking about the subject.
Innocents Q: Who's in your book club?
Seas os A: Our book club is comprised of four couples who have been meeting for about five years.
We have a lawyer/accountant, a stockbroker, an information technology specialist, a bridge
pro, a mail-order business owner, a computer specialist and retired business women. We're all
near or in our 50s. When we first arrive, there’s always plenty of talk about family events, re-
cent trips and current news. Our group loves politics.
Q: How often do you meet?
A: We meet about once a month and rotate homes. Our refreshments have graduated from wine, soda and
snacks to a full-blown meal.
Q: How did you pick her book?
A: Randy and | suggested Sister Helen's book after we heard her speak. We both knew this would be a great
book for our group. All the members have similar political views but discussion of this type of issue always give the
participants new insight.
Q: What did you and the group think of her story?
A: Everyone in the group enjoyed the book, which tells the story of two unjustly-convicted men who were exe-
cuted. Sister Helen is an amazing storyteller and an extremely well-researched and informed writer. Prior to reading
this book, only one member of our group was still undecided concerning the rightness of the death penalty. After
reading this book, she was firmly against it.
Her discussion of the court system's inadequacies in dealing with death row inmates is outstanding. | would
have welcomed a discussion from a death-penalty supporter. | think armed with her facts, it would be an easy argu-
ment to win.
Q: Would you recommend this book for other book clubs?
A: | would highly recommend it to other clubs, assuming the members enjoy discussing political topics. In a
group of dissimilar political views, this could be a very divisive subject, but a great one.
Q: What's your group reading now?
A: “Don’t Think of an Elephant” by George Lakoff.
Sister Helen Prejean
July 2005
KCADP Moumns Loss of Strong Supporters
KCADP member Janice Netherland, 71, of Louisville, died March 3, 2005.
Janice never stopped thinking about social justice, even after suffering a stroke several
years ago. She was instrumental in getting the National Organization of Women to tackle
the issue of killing citizens and, because of her leadership, N.O.W. has called for the aboli-
tion of the death penalty in the United States.
Janice was a consumer of knowledge. At every meeting she could attend of the Louisville Chapter of KCADP, she
produced a host of newspaper clippings about the death penalty, and always noting leaders we should contact for
help and offering names of potential new members. Leading by her own example, she recruited her family and
friends to become KCADP members. And they did.
She never missed a rally in Frankfort, lobbied her own elected representatives faithfully, and wrote countless let-
ters for publication in local newspapers. When KCADP opened a full-time office six years ago and took on a special
mailing to several thousand addresses, Janice came prepared to stay all day with her peanut butter sandwich. We
will miss you, Janice.
KCADP member Peter C. Reilly, 56, of Berea, died unexpectedly January 27, 2005. Peter served as a consultant,
board member and volunteer for many organizations in the Appalachian region and beyond. Peter was a founding
member of the Berea Interfaith Task Force for Peace and the Appalachian Community Fund. In addition to his work
with these organizations, Peter was a philanthropist and devoted much time and energy to peace and social justice
efforts. As an active member of Berea Friends Meeting (Quakers), Peter served in many capacities, including clerk.
As a representative of the Quaker organization Quaker Committee on Kentucky Legislation (QCKL), Peter regularly
visited and corresponded with members of the Kentucky General Assembly regarding legislation to abolish the death
penalty. Peter was a vital and beloved member of his community, and will be deeply missed by KCADP and all those
others who benefited from his loving and gentle presence.
KCADP thanks Don Habig for his generous donation of stock in honor of Norman Linton, a KCADP member who
died last July. One of Norman’s loves was letter writing and on the day his obituary appeared in the Courier-Journal,
so did his last letter opposing the death penalty. Thank you, Don, for remembering Norman in this fashion.
If you wish to honor loved ones by contributions to KCADP, please contact Kaye Gallagher at 502-636-1330.
Thank You For Your Generous Support
KCADP thanks the following members who have contributed generously since January 2005. Your financial as-
sistance is essential if KCADP is to continue its advocacy to end the death penalty in Kentucky. Forgive us if we
have missed you. In some instances we do not have spouses names. Correct us gently, if we have failed anyone.
KCADP certainly urges all members to keep their dues current and to respond to the recent special request for
donations. It is only six months from the next meeting of the General Assembly and funding is necessary to main-
tain our presence in Frankfort. And, with potential executions looming in the near future, we will need your gifts to
pay for added expenses that arise in protesting those dreadful events.
St. William Parish e St. Walburg Monastery e Sisters of Charity of Nazareth e Joyce Basil ¢ Al Bennett e Ed Bohlander @ Emily Boone e
Amanda Bragg @ Don Brockmeier e Pitsy Buren e Ann Colbert @ Lewis Cole e Brian and Prudence Cooney e Sr. Miriam Corcoran e Sheri-
all Cunningham e Annette and Alvin Darnell ¢ Sr. Mary Ellen Doyle e Bill Duckworth e Amy Edgington e Non Evans e Donald Fasold ¢
Bill Ferzacca @ Tom Fitzgerald e Maureen Flannery e Aaron Frazita e Sean and Kaye Gallagher e Roberta Galli e Jan Garrett e Roger
Gibbs @ Charles And Annabel Girard e Mary Moss Greenbaum e Doug Griggs e Don Habig @ Jerry Hardt and Diane Yoder e Alan Hart-
man e Carol Heilman e Jane Hope @ John and Deb Joerling e Kathryn Johnson e Brian Juzwik-McDonald ¢ Lew and Kathy Lancastere
Ruby Layson e Zane and Jo Ann Lockhart ¢ Mona Logsdon e Bert Lyons and Maggie Brandt ¢ Abby Marlatt e Sue Martin e Bill and Carol
Mattingly ¢ Kenneth Mayer e Annette McLaughlin e Kevin McNally and Gail Robinson e Bob and Liz Menefee e Elinor Miller ¢ Richard
Mitchell and Betsy Neale e Ed Monahan e Bert and Cherie Mutersbaugh @ Joseph Netherland @ Harry and Janice Netherland e Katie
Nienaber e Jack, Margaret, and Liam O'Donnell, ¢ Sr. Grace Pasquarella e Phyllis Passafiume ¢ Mary Alice Pratt e Rev. Bert Rapp ¢
Reb. Robert Ray e Doug Rohrer e Bob and Louise Schulman e Sr. Marilyn Shea e Lyle Snider e Jennifer and Doug Stern e Isaac Thacker
IV e John and Alice Tiano e Susan Tucker e David and Susan Vislisel e Kathi Whalen e Jessie Willoughby @ C. A. Woodall ¢ Mary Zena
July 2005 Page 3
HepG RO W KCADP
KCADP membership comprises nearly 40 organizations and 800 individuals. This has been the case for the
past several years. Though thousands of other Kentuckians oppose the use of the death penalty, KCADP has no
direct way of contacting them since we do not have their names. KCADP Board Members have pledged to provide
10 names of potential new members. Staff will contact those persons and invite their participation. Please join the
Board in this effort and provide up to 10 names of those you know who might join KCADP. Mail this to our state
office at P. O. Box 3092, Louisville, KY 40201 as soon as you can. And thank you for being a KCADP member.
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We accept gifts of stock. Call for more information about this: 502-636-1330. I
| Mail Dues and Special Gifts to KCADP, PO Box 3092, Louisville KY 40201 |
A ee i ce ic ath 4
Amnesty International USA's annual National Weekend of Faith in Action, October 21-23, 2005, asks faith
ATUSA communities to examine the use of the death penalty and to make others aware that nearly every mainline de-
nomination in the U. S. opposes capital punishment.
The NWFA is not a national conference but a local solidarity event organized by people like you! KCADP is
working with Amnesty to promote this event and is available to assist with a speakers’ bureau and offer ideas.
Amnesty provides a free organizing packet that includes a DVD copy of The Empty Chair, a 42-minute docu-
mentary which tells the stories of four families confronting the loss of loved ones and voicing different perspec-
tives on the death penalty.
The Empty Chair intimately reveals a rarely seen view of murder's aftermath: families left behind, their lives
torn apart by the random loss of a loved one. It tells four stories of murder victims' families reliving the crimes
and confronting the loss of loved ones. Their instinct for revenge during trial and the debate for punishment by
death climaxes in a search to forgive and heal. Featured in the film are:
= Sue Norton who not only forgives the man who murdered her stepparents, but also forges a friendship.
™ Renny Cushing who lobbies for victims’ rights and against the death penalty following his father’s shooting
death.
= Suse & Peter Lowenstein whose 21-year old son is bombed out of the sky over Lockerbie, Scotland, and
their struggle against terrorism.
= Susan Gove Ra-
munda, working tire-
lessly to keep the | Kentucky Coalition Non-Proftor
death penalty state is Abolisn ihe Death Penalty US. Postage
law after her daughter | | ouisville, Kentucky 40201-3092 PAID
is murdered. Louisville, KY
We hope faith groups Permit No. 110
will host a showing of The
Empty Chair for its mem-
bers and the public. The Am-
nesty packet offers many
others ideas - some simple,
some elaborate - for all
communities of faith.
To sign up for your
packet, call the KCADP of-
fice at (502) 636-1330,
email at kcadp@earthlink.
net or write KCADP, PO Box
3092, Louisville KY 40201.
You can also register at
www.amnestyusa.org/
faithinaction/signup.htm.
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