In recognition of World Day Against the Death Penalty, faith leaders met with Governor Edwards this morning calling for clemency hearings for death row inmates. Sister Helen Prejean, an advocate to abolish the death penalty, said being pro-life doesn’t mean you’re against abortion…
“It’s about the quality of life for everybody in this state and especially not giving the state this power to kill some of our citizens,” said Prejean.
Members of Louisiana InterFaith against Executions (L.I.F.E.) presented Edwards with a letter signed by more than 100 faith leaders asking him and the Pardon Board to grant clemency hearings for all of the inmates awaiting execution.
Baton Rouge Catholic Bishop Michael Gerard Duca said he believes Edwards is doing all he can on behalf of death row inmates.
“But what’s holding him up is us, we have voted those people who support the death penalty in, and we bear the mark, and we bear that responsibility ourselves if we continue to support it,” said Duca.
While recognizing those who are on death row in Louisiana, faith leaders also prayed for them and the family members of their victims. Duca said they are not asking for death row inmates to be set free, only that their lives be spared.
“We’re not talking about not paying the penalty, we’re talking about lifetime imprisonment without parole, instead of the death penalty,” said Duca.
A settlement after an injunction was filed on behalf of Louisiana district attorneys means most of the 56 inmates on death row will not have clemency hearings. Advocates are appealing the ruling.
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