Description
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative: Death Penalty Abolition and Restorative Justice Issue Team (DP-RJ Issue Team), because of our belief in the sanctity of all human life and in the dignity of all persons, pledge ourselves to prayer, education, reflection, and action to abolish the death penalty. The death penalty is unjust, inhumane and inconsistent with the Gospel message. We seek to change hearts and minds concerning this injustice. As a positive step, we promote restorative justice, a community-centered approach to justice which views crime as a violation of people and relationships, rather than simply a violation of law. Restorative Justice works to repair the harm caused when any offense is committed by focusing on the needs of the victims (including the community) and on the offender’s responsibility to repair harm, with the goal of fostering healing and restoring relationships.
Our DP-RJ Issue Team works mostly with advocacy and education. We recently published a discussion guide to help small faith communities reflect on the death penalty and to introduce them to restorative justice practices. We are working on a collaborative project with Catholic Mobilizing Network, advocating for the abolition of the death penalty across the US, learning restorative justice principles, and sponsoring people to become circle keepers (a restorative justice practice for communities). There are opportunities to support and work with the DP-RJ Issue Team and the entire Marianist Social Justice Collaborative! Please check out our website below to learn more.