- 1 - March 2, Dear Members of the Montana Legislature,

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "- 1 - March 2, Dear Members of the Montana Legislature,"

Charlene Chapman
5 years ago
Views:

1 March 2, 2011 Dear Members of the Montana Legislature, We, the undersigned faith leaders, reflecting the rich diversity of faith traditions and spiritual practices observed in Montana, stand together in expressing our opposition to our state s death penalty. As faith leaders, the public often seeks our guidance and direction on tough issues. We write to you today to ask you to support Senate Bill 185, which will repeal Montana s death penalty and replace it with a sentence of life without parole. We join the many Montanans questioning our state s death penalty system, which has consistently proved to be ineffective, unfair, and inaccurate. The death penalty not only applies disproportionately to the poor and to people of color, but also continues to make fatal mistakes, with 138 people now freed from death rows across the country due to innocence. The more we execute, the more likely it is that we will execute an innocent person, if we haven t already. We also have concerns about the way the death penalty fails murder victims family members. As religious leaders, we are sometimes looked to as resources for victims families in the aftermath of murder. As such, we have a special interest in advocating for policies that serve their needs and promote healing and wellbeing. Yet there is growing evidence that the death penalty does the opposite; it actually prolongs victims pain and delays healing while appeals and reversals force families to relive their trauma again and again. Finally, we write to voice our unease about the way our state s death penalty diverts funds from other needs. With the prosecution of a single capital case costing millions of dollars and in light of the serious economic challenges that face our nation, the valuable resources that are expended to carry out death sentences would be better spent investing in programs that work to prevent crime, such as improving education, providing services to those with mental illness, and putting more law enforcement officers on our streets. We should make sure that money is spent to improve life, not destroy it. As people of faith, we take this opportunity to reaffirm our opposition to the death penalty and to express our belief in the sacredness of human life and in the human capacity for change. It is this respect for all life that prompts us to join with other death penalty opponents across the state now advocating for abolition of Montana s death penalty. When a human life is at stake, there is simply no room for error. We urge you to take a closer look at the reality of capital punishment in Montana and seek ways to achieve true healing and restorative justice for all those who suffer because of violent crimes. Please support death penalty abolition; the time is right for Montana to take a stand. Sincerely, Pastor Morie Adams-Griffin, Belgrade Reverend Kelly Addy, Huntley Sandra Alessi, President, Whitefish Reverend Dave Andersen, Helena Pastor Avis R. Anderson, Glendive Pastor Dee Anna, Boulder, Whitehall Father Jim Antoine, OFM Cap., Lodge Grass, Big Horn County Reverend Mark D. Arnold, Baker

2 Joseph Balkovatz, Anaconda Reverend Cathy Barker, Helena The Reverend Robyn Barnes, Diocese of Montana Reverend Pattiann Bennett, Eureka Pastor Steven Benson, Libby Reverend Jeffrey P. Benusa, Harlowton Reverend Joel Biggers, Miles City Deacon John C. Board, Diocese of Montana Sandie Bolles, Clinton Sister Catrina Bones, SCL, Billings Bishop Franklin Brookhart, Diocese of Montana Very Reverend Raymond Brown, Helena Pastor Laurie Budlong-Morse, Helena Pastor Scott Budlong, Helena Reverend Bradn Buerkle, Plevna Father Rudy Bullman, Kalispell Father William T. Burke, S.J., Billings, Yellowstone County Deacon Jim Butts, Bigfork Reverend Mark Calhoun, Polson Pastor Patricia Callaghan, Sunburst Reverend Amy M. Carter, Missoula Sister Dorothy Jean Casey, SCL, Billings Reverend William M. Cawley, Great Falls- Billings Diocese Reverend Lindean Barnett Christenson, Bozeman Reverend Kevin Christofferson, Frenchtown Georgina Clark, LEM, Park City Pastor Dolly Collins, Shelby Reverend Jerry L. Collins, Harlowton Sister Marie Corr, BVM, Missoula Bishop Jessica Crist, Montana Synod Pastor John Daniels, Lewistown Father John J. Darragh, Hamilton Daniel Davis, Whitefish Reverend Dr. Richard L. Davis, Anaconda

3 Sister Jean M. Dawson, SCL, Billings Reverend Su DeBree, District Superintendent, Western Mountains Yellowstone Conference Reverend Daniel Disch, Frenchtown Pastor Karen Disney, Dillon Reverend Dan Dixon, Missoula Sister Roxanne Dolak, RSM, Kalispell Pastor Mark J. Donald, Billings Deacon William Andy Dorrington, Ruby and Madison Valleys Reverend John Duckworth, Great Falls American Baptist Churches USA Deacon Tony Duvernay, Helena Pastor Kent H. Elliott, Clancy Harold Everson, Billings Sister Doris Faber, Missoula The Reverend Michael Fay, Glasgow Reverend Duane V. Ferchen, Billings Father Jeff Fleming, Missoula Reverend Dr. Ruth A. Fletcher, Regional Minister, Christian Church in Montana Reverend Chris Flohr, Missoula Father Kenneth E. Fortney, Sanders County Reverend Kristi Foster, Billings Chaplain, Rocky Mountain College Father Richard G. Francesco, Whitefish Laurie Franklin, Missoula Reform Jewish Reverend Randolph Graczyk, OFM Cap., Pryor Reverend Rick Green, Joliet Reverend Ron Greene, Great Falls Reverend Gail Greener, Missoula Pastor John V. Gronli, Martinsdale Reverend Karl Guhn, Billings Larry Guilbault, Great Falls Reverend David Gunderson, Livingston Pastor Loren Gustafson, Helena Reverend Lyle Hamilton, Helena Reverend Curtis B. Haney, Billings

4 Reverend Msgr. Joseph D. Harrington, Helena Reverend Mike Hart, Superior/St. Regis, Alberton Yvonne Hauwiller, Bozeman Carol Heath, Billings Chuck Heath, Hospital Chaplain, Billings Reverend Scott Hedegaard, Glasgow Reverend Jim Heikes, Butte Reverend Dan. E. Heskett, Kalispell Father James J. Hogan, Missoula Sister Margaret Hogan, Hamilton Dr. Christine Holler-Dinsmore, Wolf Point Reverend Gregory V. Holler-Dinsmore, Wolf Point Reverend Cheryl J. Hoops, Harlem Reverend Vicki Horn, Missoula Father Matthew P. Huber, Stevensville Sister Edna Hunthausen, SCL, Helena Reverend Randall L. Hyvonen, Conference Minister, Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference Reverend Terry Jimmerson, Missoula Reverend Doug Johnson, Billings Prebyterian Church (USA) MAC Commission Reverend Jean Johnson, Ennis Pastor Aprille Jordan, Missoula Reverend Greg Karlsgodt, Hamilton, Missoula Father Denis Keane, Red Lodge Reverend Alice Ebi Kestler, Brady, Dutton Reverend Tom King, Missoula Evangelical Covenant Church Reverend Waveland King, Whitehall Sister Catherine Kinsella, OP, Great Falls The Venerable Archdeacon Roxanne Klingensmith, Diocese of Montana Reverend Dr. Vern L. Klingman, Billings Father Ed Kohler, Browning Reverend Dan Krebill, Bozeman President, Montana Association of Churches Deacon Robert Lane, Three Forks, Belgrade

5 Reverend Darius Larsen, Big Sky Beverly J. Larson, Kalispell Reverend Jean Larson, Bonner Reverend Robert K. Leaverton, Absarokee Reverend Thomas Lee, Missoula Reverend Charlane Lines, Sidney Reverend Tim Ljunggren, Great Falls Pastor Brentley E. Long, Billings Betty Lovelady, Co-Clerk, Helena Bill Lovelady, Clerk, Helena Grace Lucas, Missoula Robert Lucas, Missoula Pastor John Lund, Missoula Reverend Andrew Maddock, S.J., St.Ignatius Reverend Janet Malone, Hamilton Cole Mannix, Helena Deacon Don Marks, Townsend Carol Marsh, Missoula Pastor Melanie Martin-Dent, Anaconda Pastor Phillip Masters, Anaconda Assemblies of God Reverend Deacon Thomas McCarthy, Missoula Sister Valerie McGeough, RSM, Billings Deacon Dan McGrath, Butte Reverend Mark McGregor, S.J., Missoula Reverend Don Melchert, Missoula Reverend David Merkel, Columbia Falls Reverend Val Metropoulos, Big Sandy The Reverend Deacon John Moran, Helena Reverend Timothy Moriarty, Anaconda Reverend Kama Hamilton Morton, Great Falls Reverend Dr. Kenneth P. Mottram, Bozeman American Baptist Churches USA Reverend Glen Moyer, Missoula Non-Denominational Christian Reverend Leslie M. Nelson, Libby Reverend Marianne Niesen, Helena - 5 -

6 Reverend Robert Nilsen, Kalispell Mary Nordhagen, Missoula Father Thomas O'Dennell, East Helena Monsignor Kevin S. O'Neill, Vicar General, Diocese of Helena Sister Elizabeth Olsen, BVM, Missoula Kathy Olson, Helena Reverend Alvina Olstead, Opheim Reverend Steve Oreskovich, Missoula Reverend Susan Otey, Billings Pastor Barry Padget, Missoula Elaine Palmer, Helena Jeff Palmer, Helena Reverend John Payne, Polson Reverend Carolyn Pease-Lopez, Lodge Grass American Baptist Churches USA Father Rich Perry, S.J., Missoula Pastor Tom Peterman, Billings Reverend Dave Peters, Billings Reverend James G. Petersen, Great Falls Very Reverend Jay H. Peterson, Great Falls- Billings Diocese Father Herbert Joseph Pins, Dillon Reverend Domenico Pizzonia, STL, Black Eagle, Great Falls Father Michael Poole, Bonner Sister Francis X. Porter, OSU, Great Falls Reverend Robert A. Porter, Deer Lodge Reverend Robert Quam, Billings Reverend Larry D. Quanbeck, Butte Sister Mary Jo Quinn, SCL, Missoula Revered Sally Ralston, Hall Pastor Matt Randles, Helena Evangelical Covenant Church Terri Revealy, Diocese of Great Falls-Billings Reverend David Reichling, Billings Reverend Gary W. Reller, Missoula Very Reverend John Robertson, Chancellor, Diocese of Helena - 6 -

7 Pastor John S. Rohwer, White Sulphur Springs Prebyterian Church (USA) Saharadevi, Bozeman Dances of Universal Peace Hindu Community Reverend Brenda Satrum, Hamilton Father Richard Schlosser, Great Falls Reverend Deborah Schmidt, Whitefish Reverend Charlotte Schmiedeskamp, Thompson Falls Reverend Jim Shelden, Helena The Reverend Jane Shipp, Dillon Reverend Peter Shober, Missoula Reverend Nancy Slabaugh, Stevensville Father Elton Smith, Butte Reverend John Soderberg, Bozeman Rabbi Ed Stafman, Bozeman Reform Jewish Dorothy Starshine, Great Falls Reverend Tom Steenberg, Missoula Sister Therese Steiner, SCL, Billings Dr. Edwin Stickney, Billings Dr. Jessica Stickney, Billings Reverend Herbert E. Strom, Bozeman Pastor Becky Taylor, Billings Dave Thompson, Billings Reverend Eric Thorson, Billings Reverend Kathryn Trucano, Bozeman Interfaith Minister Reverend Stephen Van Gilder, Great Falls Pastor Randy Van Osdol, Belgrade Christian Reformed Church Pastor Celia VandeCreek, Bozeman Pastor Larry VandeCreek, Bozeman Reverend Lois Van Leer, Bozeman Sister Mary Vincentia, SCL, Billings Reverend Joe Wahlin, Superior Reverend George A. Walter, Polson Ann Pressman Walters, Billings Bishop Michael W. Warfel, Diocese of Great Falls-Billings Reverend Alan Warneke, Superintendent, Montana District Assemblies of God

8 The Reverend Dr. Susan Watterson, Glasgow, Hinsdale / United Methodist Church Reverend Richard Weaver, Helena Reverend Linda Webster, Box Elder, Rocky Boy Reverend Joel Westby, Missoula Rita Whittington, Billings Reverend Kendra Wilde, Helena Reverend Kim L. Wilker, Red Lodge Martha Winford, Anaconda Sister Marilyn A. Winter, OP, Great Falls The Reverend Canon Bradley S. Wirth, Whitefish, Columbia Falls Reverend Donna J. Young, Plains, Paradise Reverend Ernest G. Young, Polson Reverend Kathy Young, Bigfork Deacon Mark Zenner, Diocese of Great Falls- Billings - 8 -

Companion Synods: Bolivia & South Africa

January 4 th : Second Sunday of Christmas First Lutheran in Havre Our Saviour s Lutheran, Rocky Boy Reservation Goldstone Lutheran in Gildford Kremlin Lutheran in Kremlin Companion Synods: Bolivia & South