Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Jun 23

Documents obtained by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times through a public records request show that in 2011 the Chicago-born future Pope Leo XIV sent his gratitude to then-Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for abolishing the death penalty in Illinois.

Records show before he was the pope, Robert F. Prevost thanked Gov. Pat Quinn for ending the death penalty

Catholic organizations had lobbied Quinn to end the death penalty. The former governor was not previously aware of Prevost’s message to him.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Apr 15

Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond on supporting Richard Glossip’s bid for a new trial: “It’s not a very popular position for a Republican attorney general... But the mission of my office is not to protect the prosecutor. My mission is to seek justice.”

Oklahoma's Republican attorney general explains why he fought to overturn Richard Glossip's death sentence

Since taking office, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has approved of every death row case in the state — except one.

www.cbsnews.com

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Mar 10

LOUISIANA: RALLY THIS SUNDAY 2-4PM GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Mar 1

Today, I’m thinking about Ivan Cantu, executed in Texas on 2/28/2024. His last words to the victims’ families, there to see him die, were, “I did not kill your son. I did not kill your daughter.” I was there in the killing chamber close to him, whispering prayers into his ear.

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Feb 25

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
WONDERFUL NEWS!
New trial for Richard Glossip! www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

Supreme Court throws out Oklahoma death row inmate's conviction over flawed trial

In an unusual case, death row inmate Richard Glossip was backed by the state's Republican attorney general, who agreed the conviction was unsound.

www.nbcnews.com

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Feb 3

A poem for the times from my co-worker, Rose Vines.

The Time of the Wasps

Now is not the time for your usual life.
Within our hive
the wasps have already launched
their swift assault,
overwhelming our guards,
killing the workers,
turning their avid eyes
on our pooled, collective honey.

They come for our eggs, too.

We have expected the assault—
they are wasps, after all—
but not the shape of that assault,
and that could well be
our undoing
if we pretend that
now is the time for our usual life.

Now is the time to shower love
on those who wield the pen;
the poets, the comics,
the resolute reporters,
yes,
but also on those who build palisades and pitfalls from
statutes and precedents,
who slow the charge
of the lawless now empowered.

Now is not the time for your usual life.
Use normality as a ruse, silence as a shield,
but not as a path.
Hold close your joy and love and frolicsomeness—
the you that longs for your usual life—
while in safe places you share rumblings and connections
and lay smart plans
to make a swarming cacophony in unsafe spaces.

Now is the time of the wasps
who bring their billions to crush our millions.
But they are few.

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Jan 31

The next edition of the Graphic Dead Man Newsletter traces the book's six-year journey (so far). The newsletter is out tomorrow. graphicdeadmanwalking.substack.com

Colourful drawing of the life cycle of a butterfly.

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Jan 25

I love the latest edition of the Graphic Dead Man Walking newsletter. I hope you've subscribed - I read it each weekend.

Bishop Mariann Budde is an affront

May we all be like her

graphicdeadmanwalking.substack.com

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Reposted by Helen Prejean, CSJ

Rose Vines @rosevines.com · Jan 11

Two Aussies walked into a Louisiana prison...
graphicdeadmanwalking.substack.com/p/two-books-...

Two books for 2025

Add them to your criminal justice reading list!

graphicdeadmanwalking.substack.com

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Dec 23

Biden has commuted almost all federal death row. This is indeed a good day to do the Lord's work. I'm thankful to so many religious leaders and justice advocates who helped make this possible. I pray for victims' families, knowing that wishing for death is not a healing course.

Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences Ahead of Trump’s Plan to Resume Federal Executions (Gift Article)

Those affected by the president’s action on Monday are still subject to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Three men will remain on federal death row.

www.nytimes.com

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Dec 3

This Giving Tuesday, please consider helping my work to end the death penalty. We are facing strong headwinds!
sisterhelen.org/donate

#GivingTuesday
#DeathPenalty
#Executions

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Nov 28

On this day and on each day I am thankful to know Manuel Ortiz. He shows such extraordinary grace and courage after being on death row for 30 years for a crime he did not commit. I have promised him I shall tell his story to the world, and that's the book I'm working on now.
#deathpenalty

Sister Helen Prejean standing beside Manuel Ortiz on death row at Angola, Louisiana State Penitentiary. Photo taken in 2009 at Christmas. They are standing in front of a Christmas tree.

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Reposted by Helen Prejean, CSJ

Vox @vox.com · Nov 21

The 50 individuals on this list can both imagine a better future and do the hard work of building it.

They're not just dreamers; they're doers. voxdotcom.visitlink.me/i0ElST

The 2024 Future Perfect 50

Welcome to our third annual celebration of the thinkers, innovators, and changemakers who are working to make the future a better place.

voxdotcom.visitlink.me

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Nov 26

EJI does such important work, and they do it well. Great storytellers for justice.

Equal Justice Initiative @eji.org · Nov 24

Sign up for EJI's daily calendar email to learn more about our history of racial injustice. calendar.eji.org/sign-up

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Reposted by Helen Prejean, CSJ

Rose Vines @rosevines.com · Nov 24

Catherine Anyango Grünewald (an extraordinary illustrator) and I are in the final proofreading stage of creating a graphic version of Sister Helen Prejean’s classic Dead Man Walking. We have a publication date: Sept. 2, 2025. Follow the creation journey at graphicdeadmanwalking.substack.com

Graphic Dead Man Walking | Rose Vines | Substack

History, musings and tidbits from the conception, creation and journey to publication of a graphic version of Sister Helen Prejean’s influential classic “Dead Man Walking”. Click to read Graphic Dead ...

graphicdeadmanwalking.substack.com

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Helen Prejean, CSJ @sisterhelen.org · Nov 26

I’m very glad to be joining the conversations here on Bluesky. We have so much trouble - the good John Lewis kind of trouble - to make!

#deathpenalty
#executions
#capitalpunishment
#goodtrouble
#justice
#criminaljustice

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