Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
- Matthew 25:34-36
Legislation to abolish the death penalty in Illinois will be considered during the fall veto session in Springfield (November 16-18 and November 29-December 2). The Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) supports this legislation. The use of the death penalty when there are other means to protect our society, such as sentences of natural life without parole, weakens the respect for all human life.
Now is the time to end the death penalty in Illinois. Contact your state senator and state representative to urge them to support legislation to abolish the death penalty. A sample letter can be found here.
You can go to the Illinois State Board of Elections to look up your elected officials or call our office at (312) 368-1066 or (217) 528-9200. Please share the sample letter with family members, friends and fellow parishioners who may be interested. For example, the letter can be distributed at a parish respect life and/or peace and social justice committee meeting to encourage others to write their elected officials. If you have any questions or to let us know if you or others in your parish will be sending letters, please contact Marilou Gervacio at (312) 368-1066 or gervacio@catholicconferenceofillinois.org.
In addition, please visit the Catholic Mobilizing Network, where you can find numerous materials on the abolition of the death penalty, including a one-hour workshop that can be conducted at your parish.
