Living the Gospel Values
in the Footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi
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Members of the Catholic Native Advisory Group received a harrowing email from
Reverend Michael Carson on August 17, 2020. He shared, "Lezmond Mitchell from the Navajo Nation is scheduled to be executed by the Federal Government on August 26, 2020. Not only the victim’s family members has asked that this not take place, the Navajo Tribal Government has objected to the execution.This is not only a life issue, but it is also a violation of Tribal sovereignty." Mitchell's scheduled
execution has stirred many Catholics into action through both advocacy and prayer.
One response to Mitchell's execution is a prayer service developed by the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization that uses education, advocacy, and prayer to work toward the cessation of the death penalty and transformation of the U.S. criminal justice system through a lens of restorative justice. The Catholic Mobilizing Network has been calling on supporters to
send messages to President Trump and Attorney General William Barr to urge them to stop the execution of Mitchell. Catholic Mobilizing Network has also teamed up with Bishop Wall from the Diocese of Gallup to host a prayer vigil on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 12:00pm. To register for the prayer vigil visit catholicmobilizing.org.
Dale Jamison, OFM, is one of the Catholic Native Advisory members who received notice of Mitchell's execution. He passionately shared the message with everyone in his address book. When asked why he felt like this was an important issue, he shared the following reflections.
Since the Eucharist is most efficacious, there is a Votive Mass in the Roman Missal FOR THOSE IN PRISON. When that Votive Mass is celebrated, the celebrant is encouraged to use Eucharistic Prayer IV for Various Needs. Sections of that Prayer address Christ's compassion for all people and the Church's attempt to reflect Christ:He always showed compassion
for children and for the poor,
for the sick and for sinners,
and he became a neighbor
to the oppressed and the afflicted.
By word and deed he announced to the world
that you are our Father and that you care for
all your sons and daughters.
Bring your Church, O Lord,
to perfect faith and charity.
Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and
sisters; inspire in us words and actions
to comfort those who labor and are burdened.
Make us serve them truly, after the example of
Christ and at his command. And may the
Church stand as a living witness to truth and
freedom, to peace and justice, that all people
may be raised up to new hope.
Additionally, we can show our solidarity with Christ by making a commitment, a pledge to be more proactive in life/death moral issues:
1. I will educate myself and my communityabout the injustices of the death penalty,
including the ways it risks innocent life, fails victims' families, and contradicts the Catholic Church's pro-life teaching.
2. I will advocate for the dignity of all life,including those on death row and awaiting execution, and actively work to end the death penalty in my state and my country.
3. I will pray for mercy and healing for all who are involved in the criminal just system: victims of crime and their families, those in prison and on death row, communities where crimes are committed, and all who work in the legislative system.
