[CUADPUpdate] Jersey, Journey, Jobs & Report from the Killing Fields

Tue Oct 24 01:31:56 EDT 2006

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Greetings All,

As noted in the subject line, I'm lumping a bunch 
of stuff in here - do at least skim this entire 
message.  There is much going on and its busy 
busy busy!  I hope to see you at the NCADP 
conference in Virginia starting on Thursday!

--abe

PS - Please join me in wishing Celeste Fitzerald 
a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  (10/24)

PPS - Mazel Tov to Scott & Shiela, who 
report:  On October 16, 2006 at 8:25 pm Sasha 
Langley (middle name to de decided) was welcomed 
into the world.  Sheila's labor started at 
midnight the night before but started to become 
more intense around 1pm.  Our wonderful midwives 
arrived at 3:30 pm and 5 hours later Sasha was 
born in our bedroom at the Silk Hope Catholic 
Worker.  It was a perfect labor and delivery and 
Scott even got to "catch" her.  Attending the 
birth with us were our midwives, Nancy and Wanda, 
and our friend, Lenore.  The room was calm and 
cozy, warmed by the woodstove and lit by 
candlelight.  She weighed in at 8 lbs 4 oz and is 
20 and ¾ inches long.  She is absolutely 
beautiful with long brown hair.  All 3 of us are doing wonderfully!

***************

CONTENTS
Jersey
Journey
Jobs
Report from the Killing Fields

******

JERSEY

The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission 
will hold its FIFTH & FINAL public hearing on 
WEDNESDAY (10/25/06) starting at 1pm.

If you are anywhere near Trenton, please join 
NJADP members who will be present for this 
historic moment.  NOW is the time for concerned 
New Jerseyans to be present in force.  Please 
spread the word to anyone you know in New 
Jersey.  Urge clergy, friends, family and 
associates to come on their own or to carpool with others.

The hearing begins at 1pm in (room TBA) of the 
State House Annex and will probably conclude by 
5pm.  It is OK to arrive late or leave 
early.  For those who have come to previous 
hearings, please note that the quality of the 
sound has been improved with the addition of new 
speakers in the audience seating area.

COME EARLY FOR LUNCH!  Once again, NJADP will 
host a pre-hearing luncheon at the Contemporary 
Auditorium, 176 West State Street, just across 
from the State House - look for the "NO 
EXECUTIONS" banner over the gate.  The luncheon 
will start at 11:30 and end when it is time to 
walk across the street to the hearing.  Please 
RSVP to 1-609-278-6719 or to <abe at njadp.org> so 
that we can be sure to have enough food.

AND IF YOU CANNOT COME?

LISTEN to the hearing, starting at 1pm EDT (OR 
WHENEVER THE HEARING ACTUALLY STARTS): 
<http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/LIVE_AUDIO.ASP>http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/LIVE_AUDIO.ASP

Read transcripts of earlier hearings at 
<http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/pubhearings2006.asp#DPSC>http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/pubhearings2006.asp#DPSC

Learn more about the Study Commission: 
<http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/njdeath_penalty.asp>http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/njdeath_penalty.asp

In the coming days, see news coverage, etc. at 
<http://www.njadp.org/>http://www.njadp.org/

Thanks to all who have helped make NJADP's 
efforts possible - especially NJADP's funders and volunteers!

*************

JOURNEY

I was back on the Journey over the 
weekend.  Saturday was a "rest day," and a 
beautiful one at that.  Several of us got our 
hair cut by the beautiful and talented SueZann 
Bosler, many got caught up on laundry, or sleep, 
and in the evening we were joined by Sr. Helen 
Prejean, who unfortunately had to compete with 
game #1 of the world series.  There were 50 
Journey participants and about 100 others in the 
audience.  Needless to say, we had planned to be 
passing the collection plates among 500 people 
rather than 100.  I suppose this was better than 
last year when the Journey was in Houston and 
NOBODY showed up for our main Houston event the 
night that turned out be game 6 with the Astros 
in the series for the first time in a LONG 
TIME!  In any case, if you can help augment the 
collection to help cover costs for the VA 
Journey, please visit http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/support.htm

ALSO - Robert Hoelscher, Journey participant and 
campaign coordinator for Murder Victims' Families 
for Reconciliation is blogging the Journey at 
http://www.thejourneyofhope.blogspot.com/ - be 
sure to scroll down to see a picture of Marvin & 
Anne Bonowitz' grandson wreaking havoc outside the VADP offices....

****************

JOBS

Well, the recent round of Tides Foundation 
capacity grants money has been decided, as 
evidenced by Executive Director positions being 
opened in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

For the Ohio job posting info, e-mail Sr. Alice 
at <<mailto:alice%40ijpc-cincinnati.org>alice at ijpc-cincinnati.org>

For the PA job posting info, e-mail Dr. Lisa at 
<southeast at pa-abolitionists.org>

Tell them Abe sent ya!

*******************

REPORT FROM THE KILLING FIELDS

the execution today

Posted by: "hannah floyd"

Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:00 pm (PST)

I actually thought about not going this time. 
sometimes it just gets too much, and three 
executions within a month, is a bit more evil than I care to handle.
But......Amy Joe from the GCADP called my work 
and asked if I needed a ride - and I said yes.
So there I was, for the "I dont know how many" 
times since I came to Florida, and just like the 
first time, I still get this feeling of being in the twilight zone.
If there ever was a 'peaceful" execution rally, this was it.
A bus full of Catholics was already there when we 
arrived around five, and we had the most 
beautiful spiritual ceremony. there were singing 
and prayers, and just this energy there that I 
have missed during all the other ones put 
together. I think it was the first time that 
someone actually was talking about Jesus and his 
light, and how all life is sacred, regardless of 
who we are and what we have done- We are all created by the same God.

To me this was so much more powerful than any political speech.
[Abe's Note - killing time in Florida is 6pm]
The sky was awesome, and just after 6.00 pm this 
light busted through the clouds - mark elliot 
from Amnesty leaned over and whispered to me, 
"something really special just happened" and even 
though we can't know what it was, we can have 
faith that things are happening in a realm we have yet to access.
Just before 6.00PM a gigantic 'storklike" bird 
flew past Florida state Prison, in eye hight. which we all noticed too.
Anyway,just wanted to touch base, and to ask 
everyone who are in Florida or even outside, to 
come next week, or to encourage friends and 
relatives here to join.  it will not be nice next 
week, it will be a crashing of opinions on the 
earth , and I would think, an even bigger battle 
in the spiritual realm. "against powers and 
principalities" to use a Christian term.
we are expecting a lot of PRO DP people there, 
due to the name of the man getting killed, and 
because he committed his horrible murders in 
Gainesville,( which is practically around the 
corner from here) there is a possibililty of lots of victims families there.
Hannah
What does the Lord require of you, but to do 
justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God!
************

"Next week" is now THIS WEEK, and again, I say to 
all of our brothers and sisters in Florida - 
COURAGE!  Danny Rolling is to be killed on 
Wednesday at 6pm.  Read all about it at http://www.fadp.org/news/newsindex.html

**************

And now a bonus for those of you who have read this far....

Death penalty continues despite church's 50-year opposition

Oct. 19, 2006

NOTE: Photographs are available at <http://umns.umc.org/>http://umns.umc.org.

A UMNS Report By Tom McAnally*

Fifty years ago, delegates to the Methodist 
General Conference granted full clergy rights to 
women. Action by that top legislative body of the 
denomination prompted anniversary celebrations 
across the United Methodist Church this year.

Delegates to the 1956 conference in Minneapolis 
took another historic action that has received 
little attention. For the first time, delegates 
put the church officially on record as opposed to the death penalty.

Each Methodist and United Methodist General 
Conference since that time has reaffirmed its 
opposition to capital punishment. Meeting every 
four years, these assemblies are the only bodies 
that can speak officially for the denomination.

<http://www.wfn.org/2006/10/msg00198.html>http://www.wfn.org/2006/10/msg00198.html

*************

See you in Virginia...

--abe

www.CUADP.org 