Grave
Injustice: Unearthing Wrongful Executions, by Richard A. Stack. Potomac Books, 2013. It is most probably true that United States has executed a number of innocent persons. This author aims to expose the main defects in the capital punishment system in vogue in the States by showing that the death penalty is carried out by flawed humans, and that this irreversible punishment has no place in an imperfect system. By naming the case of Troy Davis who spent twenty years in prison and was then
executed for a crime he most likely did not commit, sets the stage for introducing many others whose fate was similar. Stack puts a human face on the tragedy of capital punishment.
The nineteen executions described in this book show clearly the defects in this system of "justice" and proves that capital punishment does not deter crime, and it costs more than life without parole. Noteworthy is
the disparity between classes of persons who are executed: more African Americans than whites, more poor than rich, more poorly educated than well educated, more who can afford expensive lawyers that those who cannot. Procedural errors, incompetent defense attorneys, and mistaken eyewitnesses cause many unnecessary and unjust condemnations and deaths.
This author gives examples
of six anti-death penalty warriors who clearly show the country how to become a more compassionate society, and prove that the death penalty is not the best way to go. Prisons were originally places for doing penance; executions eliminate all possibilities of redemption.
"...the death penalty neither deters crime nor affords the rest of society greater protection from
offenders than a punishment of life without parole....Even the benefit of bringing "closure "to the murder victim's loved ones is questionable." (Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)
Twins often share the same interests and ideas with an equal intensity. Therefore, it is no surprise that Scholastica and her twin brother, Benedict (July 11), established religious communities within a few miles from each other.
Born in 480 of wealthy parents, Scholastica and Benedict were brought up together until he left central Italy for
Rome to continue his studies.
Little is known of Scholastica's early life. She founded a religious community for women near Monte Cassino at Plombariola, five miles from where her brother governed a monastery.
The twins visited each other once a year in a farmhouse because Scholastica was not permitted inside the monastery. They spent these
times discussing spiritual matters.
According to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, the brother and sister spent their last day together in prayer and conversation. Scholastica sensed her death was close at hand and she begged Benedict to stay with her until the next day.
He refused her request because he did not want to spend a night
outside the monastery, thus breaking his own Rule. Scholastica asked God to let her brother remain and a severe thunderstorm broke out, preventing Benedict and his monks from returning to the abbey.
Benedict cried out, "God forgive you, Sister. What have you done?" Scholastica replied, "I asked a favor of you and you refused. I asked it of God and he granted it."
Brother and sister parted the next morning after their long discussion. Three days later, Benedict was praying in his monastery and saw the soul of his sister rising heavenward in the form of a white dove. Benedict then announced the death of his sister to the monks and later buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself.
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Weekend Readings
Saturday 1 KGS 3:4-13 PS 119:9-14
MK 6:30-34
Sunday IS 58:7-10 PS 112:4-9 1 COR 2:1-5 MT 5:13-16
Topics being discussed at this time include: Lonergan vs. Aurobindo - Book and Movie Reviews forum
"The Rising Tide of Silence," by Thomas Keating - Book and Movie Reviews forum Snippets from the Hard Copy (on universal reconciliation) - Recommended Resources forum
Apophatic Christian spirituality - Christian Spirituality Issues forum
Effects of eliminating salt, sugar, wheat and
dairy. - Health and Wellness forum.
Sacrifice Sacrifice has different meanings. It can mean the slaughter of
animals for religious ceremony. It can mean the death of Christ on the cross by which our sins are forgiven. It can mean the attempt to appease a deity or deities through the death of an animal or person on an altar.
