Pastor protests Texas death penalty

More than 100 years ago, the religious community now known as the Basilian Fathers of Toronto, planted itself in Texas, its first foray into the United States. Since then, the presence of the congregation has grown to include a university, a high school and a retirement house in Houston, and six other establishments, mostly parishes, in the Houston area. The largest of the parishes, St. Anne's, Houston, is located on the edge of downtown in a diverse and eclectic area. Among the parishioners is David Atwood, the founder of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Texas is the epicenter of the use of the death penalty in the only country in the industrialized West that still allows it. Since Texas resumed the death penalty in 1982, over 300 executions have taken place, and there are currently 450 people on Texas' death row. Though the pope has come out against it, as have the bishops of the United States and Canada, many Catholics have not seen the inclusion of those on death row in the efforts of those who proclaim the value of life in the unborn, the aged, the infirm and so on.

The Basilians at St. Anne's, and some from other houses in the Houston area, have joined David Atwood and his Coalition in non-violent protests of the death penalty. They march with candles and signs in front of the church on evenings when executions take place. Last year there were 33 executions in Texas, more than in any other state. The condemned are strapped to the gurney at 6 p.m., and are dead by 6:15 p.m., so the marches are scheduled between 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. to coincide with the deaths.

An overwhelming number of Texans favour the death penalty, and the reactions of the passers-by confirm that. Some honk in support, but most yell out, "Kill them all," or "Fry the bastards." The venom and relish in their voices is really scary. It's interesting to note that most of the supportive "thumbs-up" come from people in late model cars. The SUV's, Hummers, etc.--the Lexus of evil--continually hurl invective at us.

These protests have been invigorating for the participants. Death row prisoners are perhaps the most despised members of society because of the terrible crimes they have committed. It is a challenge for many people to see the lives of these prisoners as sacred. However, we are called by our faith to do so. Dave Atwood has visited about 10 men on death row and says that it makes it easier to see the value of their lives. He has found most of them remorseful. In many cases they have changed in prison, even become educated. Some have found God. Their backgrounds are often full of horrific abuse, poverty and neglect. Many are retarded, mentally ill or brain damaged. "When you see them," David says, "you come to know them as human beings, you don't want to see them executed."

Juries in Texas, however, do not have the option of life in prison without parole.

When John Paul II visited the United States in 1999, he challenged us to see all human life as sacred when he said, "The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life, who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. I renew the appeal ... for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary."

Jesus was himself a victim of the death penalty. He saved others from it. Himself, he could not save. He made it clear that we are in no position to condemn others to death. We are very mindful of this in our efforts to bring Texas and the rest of the United States, into line with Canada and the other countries of the West in rejecting the death penalty.

John F. Robbins, C.S.B. is the Pastor at St. Anne's Catholic Community in Houston Texas

COPYRIGHT 2003 Catholic New Times, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning