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AnnaLouise (189 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore | Mon Sep-08-08 08:25 PM Original message |
To Pastor and Gov. Strickland.. 38 reasons Christians oppose state murder |
Edited on Mon Sep-08-08 08:26 PM by AnnaLouise
Open Letter to Governor To Cancel Governmental Murder (Execution)
(Governor Strickland is a former pastor) Dear Governor Strickland, Jesus as recorded in John 8: 7 prevented an execution in progress as he said "let them without sin cast the first stone". Cain murdered in jealousy, Moses in anger, David in lust, and Paul in obedience to a violent government. Yet God caused none of them to be killed. Instead God has caused a ban on execution or governmental murder to be the law in around 150 countries. Please join Ohio to the world's civilized communities, which prefer to invest in countries in which God's governmental nonviolence is practiced. God overshadow your decision. Mr Cooey was 19 when the killing occurred. How many of us are as ignorant, egotistical, or violent as we were at 19.? If you are an abolitionist, please email the governor: http://governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/...0/Default.aspx Governor's Office Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 South High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6108 Phone/Fax General Info: (614) 466-3555 Fax: (614) 466-9354 Press inquiries: Keith Dailey. You can e-mail him at keith.dailey@governor.ohio.gov. The woman prosecutor calling for murder of Mr Cooey is Sherri Bevan Walsh: http://www.co.summit.oh.us/prosecutor/index.htm http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/arti...cid=17&did=806 38 Reasons Christians Oppose The Death Penalty Jesus stands between a mob and a woman they are stoning.. telling them to put down the stones unless they are without sin.. preventing a capital punishment in progress ******* Please forward to Governor Strickland with a note that you spend dollars in nonexecuting states: Micah says that GOD WHO IS COMPASSION IS THROWING OUR INIQUITIES (SINS) INTO THE DEEPEST DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN Most of the predominantly Christian nations of the world have outlawed capital punishment. From Matthew to John 8: 7 the Gospel is full of Christ's infinite mercy, compassion, the universal forgiveness of the Good Shepherd. The officially Episcopalian nation of the UK, the Quakers or Friends, the Mennonites, Pat Robertson, Pope John Paul II, Sr. Helen Prejean, all US Catholic bishops are some of the hundreds of millions of Christians asking for a moratorium on or end to the death penalty. Abba in Jesus' name cancel all executions everywhere now and forever. There are many Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Sufis, Jains and other religions represented well in the abolition movement. 38 REASONS THAT MANY CHRISTIANS SUPPORT ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY 1. Jesus stopped a capital punishment in progress, as a woman was being stoned to death. He said that those without sin should cast the first stone. The Levitical law of the old Testament had mandated executions for adultery, for both participants. It is interesting that only the woman was brought for stoning in this incident. Jesus sacrificed Himself but He would not sacrifice others. 2. As Jesus had a Last Supper, so do all executed people. One man in the US executed was so retarded he did not realize he could not save his dessert for later. 3. Paul held the coats of those who stoned Stephen and himself was involved in military campaigns against Christians. Yet no Christian asked for or was involved in his death, only Roman conquerors. 4. Cain, David, and Moses killed in jealousy, lust, and anger. God protected all of them from retribution. 5. Paul, Cain, David, Moses, and others received mercy. Jesus says in the Sermon On The Mount: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 6. Exodus' Ten Commandments: "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is not asterisked to say 'this does not include state murder'. Earlier translations of the Bible say 'kill' and not 'murder', because all killing was forbidden, whether or not the Israelites were ready for this message from God. While Moses (Exodus 6: 9) found that the Israelites, their Spirits quenched by slavery, were not ready for the highest teaching, we pray all are ready now. 7. Alcohol, drugs, some psychiatric medications and other substances make lesions in the aura, the electromagnetic field of the body. Through these, demons can enter and use the body as their weapon. When the demons depart, their victim is left to accept the consequences. 8. Jesus says there is more joy on heaven for the hundredth lambs, than for anyone else. The people on death row, whether guilty or innocent, are hundredth lambs, whom we are commanded to treat as our brothers and sisters by Jesus. 9. Scripture: "Judge not lest ye be judged". Violence is learned behavior. Abusers, many studies say, were abused. The death penalty in punishing abusive abusers is akin to punishing the cue ball for the direction it is sent by the stick. Only God has all the data. No one else has enough factors to make an evaluation. 10. The parable of the eleventh hour laborer who received the same pay.. as those who worked all day.. indicates that what is restitution .. amends.. repayment.. is a decision for God and not the courts. 11. Helen Prejean: (paraphrased) Those who believe in the death penalty identify the condemned with the worst moment of his (or her) life.. None of us is the worst thing we have done. We do not rape the rapist. We do not batter the batterer. 12. Someone from NCR has compared those governors who say they are upholding the law in executing .. to Pontius Pilate. 13. Luke 4: 18-19 Like the Sermon On The Mount this is one of many passages in which Jesus speaks of the divine mission of helping the poor. Virtually no billionaires or millionaires are executed in the United States, and proportionately fewer whites on death row than blacks. 14. Mary Alice Davis, editorial writer of the Austin American Statesman spoke of the crucifix, the most famous symbol of execution 15. In replacing the Levitical law of retribution with His Law of Love, Jesus transcended Leviticus. 16. Isaiah: I delight not in your blood sacrifice. 17. Isaiah: They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Gone will be what Ann N describes as the pagan human sacrifice of witnessing the death row gurney, similar to the victim placed upon the altar. 18. Love the Lord Thy God with thy whole heart, thy whole soul, thy whole mind, thy whole self. Love thy neighbor as thyself. If we love our neighbors as ourself, we regard execution as a form of forbidden suicide. 19. The question of whether or not to be obedient to civil law is one every Christian answers for himself or herself. Jesus said "Which of you having an ox in the ditch would not rescue it on the Sabbath?" Paul said to obey the authorities, yet J S has pointed out that Paul himself answered God in disobeying the Romans by continuing to preach. There are bribed legislators in many houses and senates. The letter of the law is one thing. The Spirit is another. The mind is one thing. The heart which enshrines God has the ultimate authority, for in it God whispers individual marching orders to each person. 20. Bettie Beets quoting Jesus: What God hath joined together let no one put asunder. 21. Father Forgive them for they know not what they do.. said Jesus as he hung suffocating on the cross. If Jesus could forgive crucifiers, He calls on you and me to forgive all. . If Jesus were here now, perhaps he would say "let those without sin inject the first lethal injection.. let those without sin throw the first electric chair switch". 22. Isaiah 59: They hasten to shed innocent blood. (Governor Ryan of Illinois in the US began a permanent moratorium on the death penalty after being convinced that at least 14% of those executed, per DNA evidence, were innocent.) 23. Deuteronomy states that more than 1 witness is required to establish guilt or innocence, yet in Texas 1 witness sent some to death row. 24. Numbers also echoes Deuteronomy. 25. Because GOD IS LOVE, because Jesus and His angels have the keys to hell, many Christians do not believe in a permanent hell. But those who do are in their own minds sending unsaved prisoners to hell when they work for the execution of rebellious prisoners. HE WRITES OUR SINS UPON THE SAND AND ENGRAVES OUR VIRTUES IN THE STONE.. HE WASHES OUR ERRORS FROM THE LAND AND WRITES OUR LOVE IN THE HEART OF GOD 26. In Matthew, Jesus says one should not swear or take oaths. Therefore a true Christian cannot testify in court against someone, because that involves swearing. Father in Jesus' name save the lives of all on death row in the US and everywhere. Bless Bettie Beets, Feb 24, Texas, Terry Sims, Feb 23, Florida, Odell Barnes, March 1st, Texas, Philip Workman, April 6, Tennessee, Anthony Chaney, poet, Arizona death row. (Workman and Barnes are believed by many to be innocent.) 27. One woman said "these are convicted criminals". So was Jesus Christ, convicted of a felony by a combination of Caesar and those who rejected His message. 28. Suffer the little children to come unto me. The United States is one of a handful of nations still executing juveniles. Others are Iran, Yemen, Nigeria, and perhaps China. Half of those executed have been in Texas. 29. Most predominantly Christian nations in the world have banned the death penalty. 106 nations (perhaps more) have outlawed state murder. 30. In the Sermon On the Mount, Jesus said we should visit the imprisoned, not murder them in the name of the state. 31. Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Jesus had the power to stop the release of the political revolutionary Barabbas who believed in the use of violence to overthrow occupying powers. But Jesus gave Himself in exchange. 32. In Matthew 12, Jesus quotes Isaiah and says "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." 33. John 6: 66 to John 6: 68 Jesus knows that many disciples will leave Him as they are not strong enough for His teaching of universal love and do not understand His message about communion. 34. We are commanded to forgive 70 x 7 times, which many interpret to mean we are commanded to give infinite times. It is for God and not us to render judgment. 35. Matthew 5:38-39 36. In Matthew 12, Jesus quotes Isaiah and says "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." 37 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 38. We are commanded by Jesus (Sermon on the Mount) to visit the imprisoned, not to murder them. A. 106 nations have outlawed the death penalty, 30 since 1990. B. The United States executes more people than any other country except China and the Congo(the latter during Civil War). C. The United States is one of six countries which still execute juveniles. Iran, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia also execute juveniles. D. The United States has executed the citizens of Germany, Mexico, and Canada, despite protests of these governments that international law procedures were not followed. E. The United States has executed retarded people, F. While twelve states and the District of Columbia have outlawed the death penalty, the unelected members of the Justice Dept. have sometimes swept into a community, says Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, taken over the investigation of a murder, and pressed for the death penalty even when the people of that state have outlawed it. G. Many Christian denominations have taken permanent stands against the death penalty. G1. In "The Kingdom of God Is Within You" Leo Tolstoy whose nonviolence ignited Martin Luther King wrote that Christians should not be involved in executions. H. One state executed 7 people in 1 week. I. The death penalty does not deter crime. Those states with the highest execution rates continue to have the highest murder rates, while countries in Europe which have outlawed capital punishment have fewer murders than the city of Los Angeles. J. Of 85 people freed from death row after DNA established their innocence, 13 were in Illinois. One list person said that it seems that 2 witnesses against someone can equal the chair. I PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: . BATHS: One inmate said if he ever got out the first thing he would do would be to soak in a bathtub for the first time in 30 years. . TEMPERATURE: In some prison systems, older inmates especially suffer from lack of fans, air conditioning, or winter cold. THE RIGHT TO SUNSHINE AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE II HUMAN GUINEA PIGS In Vacaville, California, Pennsylvania, Alabama and many other prison systems, prisoners have been subjected to medical experimentation and to mind control projects. III PROTECTION FROM RAPE, VIOLENCE, THEFT: All prisons need to upgrade protection from violence, rape, and theft at the hands of other prisoners and guards. IV LEGAL RIGHTS: . universal access to DNA testing if wished . universal access to good lawyers and law support Internet tools, law books etc. . Redress from prosecutorial persecution . reasonable access to governor, prosectors, parole board, attorneys, media etc. V COMMUNICATION TOOLS: need to be accessible to all. . Mail privileges should be respected. . MCI as of this writing is the worst offender in profiting by exorbitant collect call rates. Television, radio, computers, stamps for mail, etc. VI DIETARY FREEDOM: . dietary freedom: vegetarian, kosher, no pork, diabetic and other diets should be respected. A wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables should be available to all. VII: INTIMACY: Conjugal rights besides keeping down the suicide rate also reduce prison conflicts . Visitor hours VIII: INSTITUTIONAL SLAVERY: . Chain gangs, as in Arizona, should be abolished IX: FREEDOM FROM FORCED MEDICATION.. of psychiatric medications which cause tardifdyskinesia, dry mouth, gradual rigidification of muscles, lesions in the brain tissue, addiction* * Navane is as addictive as cocaine X: religious freedom needs to be universal.. Just as in China it is difficult for a prisoner to read a Bible if arrested for worshipping in his own faith.. so in some American prisons it is difficult for prisoners to read the Koran or the Bhagavad Gita. XI: RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM EXECUTION which is already recognized by 106 countries Please post your additions to this list. http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/abolish.html http://www.cuadp.org http://www.ccadp.org http://www.egroups.com/messages/txabolition http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/texasabolition Abba in Jesus' name thank You for ending executions everywhere. Listen on web to show on abolition of death penalty http://www.wamu.org Diane Rehm Show archives A recent ABC poll had 45% in favor of state sanctioned murder and 43% opposed A Maryland study on racist execution patterns showed that 80% of the victims in Maryland are black, but virtually all of the blacks on death row in Maryland were sentenced not for allegedly killing blacks but whites The Innocence Project has freed many through DNA tests, attorney services etc. Prosecutor Gilchrist in Oklahoma tampered with evidence in at least 16 cases in which some were sent to death row or executed. Some are asking for the resignation of John McAdams, execution proponent, since he is on the faculty of Marquette. The vast majority of Catholics follow Christ in opposing the death penalty. 1. The death penalty is not a deterrent say European Union studies 2. Around 108 nations in the world have banned state sanctioned murder 3. Prosecutorial or police ambition, ego, or corruption can account for withholding evidence, changing evidence 4. Jail house snitches are rewarded with reduced sentences for lying 5. The racist bias in the death penalty is most prevalent in the states of Virginia, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri (where Ashcroft has executed and whose state's status as a slave state was promoted by Thomas Jefferson), South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma 6. The killing of innocents has denied them the right of appeal 7. The poor have not been able to afford competent attorneys. In Texas a man was executed though his attorney slept through the trial. Alcoholic, unconcerned attorneys have been a factor in wrongful convictions 8. Alabama and Georgia provide no lawyer for appeal. 9. Alabama still has a hitching post and is the only state to allow legal handcuffing of prisoners in the hot sun at a pole. http://www.prejean.org Beautiful words: mercy, compassion, acquittal, amnesty, absolution, forgiveness, exoneration, freedom, transformation, reform. http://www.amnesty.org http://www.aclu.org http://www.ccadp.org http://www.cuadp.org http://www.tcadp.org http://www.otse.org http://www.egroups.com/messages/ohioabolition http://www.smu.edu/~deathpen NOTES FROM DEAD MAN WALKING BY SISTER HELEN PREJEAN In 1890, the New York Times referred to electrocution as euthanasia by electricity. (It was at this time that Edison publicly electrocuted an elephant, and then a prisoner, whose bones, because of the doubled voltage, caught on fire.) * There is a smell of bacon frying .. during an electrocution (paraphrased). Afterwards the liver is too hot to touch. It is not true that prisoners can't feel because they can't move. They cannot move because the electricity has contracted all their muscles. * (paraphrased) It was in Terre Haute (where the government has its secret federal executions) at a conference that I began to realize that rather than pray God would change things He wanted us to change things. * I was asked to be a penpal to a man on death row. I wrote him that he need not answer. I would write him anyway. (paraphrased): We are asked by Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to visit the imprisoned. Discarding the habit may have saved my life. As a student teacher, my veil caught on fire from a candle during a prayer service. : One man defecated in fear on the way to the gallows (paraphrased). (as many animals, in terror and pain, defecate in the slaughterhouse) None of us is the worst action we have ever been involved in. When I was 13 I wanted to prove I was as tough as the boys so I also picked up a stick and hit the trapped possum. Later I had nightmares. * ******************** Poster, aged 12, to please the gardener smashed some Japanese beetles. Do nearly all of us kill from peer pressures? from biology class dissection or in the case of men, from misguided rites of initiation? The gruesome guillotine has been eliminated .(with the exception of the mouse sized ones in vivisection labs).. and then the gallows.. now our unelected court decides on lethal injection.. may we now join the nearly 3/4 of the world which has outlawed premeditated governmental murder. * It is worse to hire the hitman than be the hitman. The abstract killing of the bomber pilot, the general, the chancellor, the judge. * It is worse to kill in premeditated cold judicial murder than in hot passion. The state courts, the circuit courts, the "Supreme" Court all have serial killers on them, those who have voted more than once to deny mercy. Does revenge killing bring back the victim? Does capital punishment deter crime? According to many studies, the countries and states with the highest execution rates continue to have the highest murder rates. If one visits a death row prisoner, he will hopefully discard his judging, his belief in his own superiority. No attacks in the guise of preaching are welcome. ************************ Cary Grant in His Girl Friday to a sheriff who has withheld knowledge of a governor's reprieve so that he may be re-elected: "That's murder." NPR caller to Ray Suarez show discussing anthrax: The difference between gas in warfare and gas in a gas chamber is quantitative, not qualitative. Charles Grodin, star of Beethoven and talk show host: It seems there are no rich on death row. (Nor percentage wise do as many white slayers die as black slayers.) * Governor Jesse Ventura: "Thou shalt not kill" is not asterisked with exceptions. * Francis of Assisi: There but for the grace of God go I. Starseed Transmissions: You do not have enough data to assign value to any action. Revenge is mine, saith the Lord.(It has not been delegated to courts full of miscreants) http://www.prejean.org 36 reasons Christians oppose the death penalty http://www.postpoems.com/cgi-bin/dis...cgi?pid=181756 Bianca Jagger compared governors who do nothing to modern Pontious Pilates. Again Father Mother God in the name of all beings we ask You now to cancel all executions, war, vivisection, slaughter of any kind to any being now and always. |
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progressiveforever (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore | Sat Oct-11-08 11:06 PM Response to Original message |
1. I hated to hear the good governor denied clemency |
The act was horrendous, but I cannot support the death penalty. Governor Strickland, please reconssider this.
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DU AdBot (1000+ posts) | Sun Dec 22nd 2024, 11:46 AM Response to Original message |
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