JUAN MELENDEZ TO SPEAK AT ST. THERESA PARISH, HENNIKER AND NH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, NASHUA

Juan Melendez, death penalty opponent and exonerated death row inmate, will be speaking at St. Theresa Parish in Henniker, NH on Friday, February 5, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. and at the NH Catholic Charities office on 261 Lake St., Nashua, NH, on Saturday, February 6th, 10:00 a.m. All are welcome.

Mr. Melendez was on death row in Florida for almost 18 years before he was exonerated in 2002. He is one of 119 former death row inmates who have been exonerated because of innocence since 1973.  While in New Hampshire, Mr. Melendez is also scheduled to speak at Trinity High School and area colleges and testify before the Death Penalty Study Commission of New Hampshire State Legislature, which is reviewing current state capital punishment law.

At St. Theresa Parish and NH Catholic Charities, Mr. Melendez is expected to share his personal story of human resilience, courage, faith, and hope, and encourage others to become involved as advocates for a society that ensures justice for all people.  Further information about Mr. Melendez can be found at the following link:  http://www.voicesunited4justice.com/juan.htm.

HEALTHCARE REFORM LEGISLATION

Brief Update:  On January 25, 2010, USCCB leaders sent a letter to Congress encouraging Congress to “begin working in a bipartisan manner providing political courage, vision and leadership.”  The bishops emphasized, “We must all continue to work towards a solution that protects everyone’s lives and respects their dignity.”

Passage of a health care reform bill is uncertain, but the need for reform remains a national priority and moral imperative.  Health care is a basic human right; yet, there are nearly 50 million Americans who do not have access to health care.  “Now is not the time to abandon this task, but rather to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform.”  The entire letter can be found at www.usccb.org/heathcare/HC-Letter-to-Congress-012610.pdf

Take Action Now!

• Contact your Senators and Representative today (For contact information, visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov).  The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.
• Urge Congress to work in a bipartisan manner toward achieving affordable, accessible health care for all that protects life and does not threaten life.
• Tell your Senators and Representative that health care from must include the following criteria:

1. Ensure access to quality, affordable, life giving health care for all;
2. Retain longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights;
3. Protect the access to health care that immigrants currently have and remove current barriers to access; and
4. Restrain costs and apply them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

DEATH PENALTY HEARING ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010

On Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., SB 472, which would expand the definition of capital murder to include purposely causing the death of another while in another’s residence, will be heard at the State House, room 103.  The text of the bill can be found at the following link: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/SB0472.html.  We will oppose this bill.

Take Action Now!

• Testify before the Judiciary Committee on February 2. 
• Call or write the members of the Judiciary Committee. Click here for the contact information for the members:    http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/members/sencom.asp
• Call or write to your own representatives.  Click here to obtain their names and contact information.

How to Testify or Write

The most persuasive testimony comes from your own personal story. Speak from your heart. There are many reasons not to expand the death penalty and to abolish the death penalty altogether.  

Some suggested talking points and other information:

• The Commission to Study the Death Penalty in New Hampshire was established by the Legislature last year and currently is meeting on a monthly basis.  No bills to expand the death penalty should even be considered by the Legislature before the Commission issues its report in December 2010.
• “Among democratic and developed countries, the United States stands almost alone it is regular use of the death penalty”- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “A Culture of Life and the Death Penalty”
• As Pope John Paul II discussed in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae , human life is a gift given from God, and every human being inherits the dignity of that life. The death penalty is contrary to this belief, as it affords the government the right to directly kill an individual who is no longer a threat to society.
• The death penalty no longer has a place in modern society because there are other means to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor (e.g., life in prison without the possibility of parole).
• Click here for What Every Catholic Should Know About Capital Punishment (pdf)
• Click here for additional information about the Church’s position on the death penalty.
• Click here for more information about testifying and writing to legislators.  

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