Gov. George Ryan (Illinois)

Sr. Kathleen Hughes, Provincial, and the other four members of the U.S. Provincial Team have written Gov. George Ryan of Illinois to thank him for extending his freeze on the death penalty in his state. The provincial team is in the process of sending letters to more than 70 other U.S. and state officials to notify them of the U.S. Province’s corporate stance against capital punishment.

Members of the Society of the Sacred Heart, U.S. Province, ratified a corporate stance against the death penalty in June, 2001.

In a recent letter to Gov. Ryan and other federal and state officials, the Provincial Team said, “The death penalty is an irrevocable punishment, one that, even with new protections in place, will inevitably result in the execution of some who are innocent of any crime. The United States is one of the few industrialized nations that imposes capital punishment on its citizens.”

Gov. Ryan does not oppose the death penalty but called for a moratorium on executions more than two years ago, when new evidence revealed that serious flaws in the system could lead to innocent men being put to death.

Ryan, whose term ends in January, said the freeze would remain in effect until he leaves office.

The statement adopted by the province asserts, “We the Religious of the Sacred Heart of the United States Province, committed to the mission of incarnating God’s love, join people of conscience throughout the world, religious congregations of women and men, the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States, and Pope John Paul II, to declare our opposition to capital punishment.”

Officials receiving letters about the corporate stance include justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and governors, senators and attorneys general in states where Religious of the Sacred Heart carry out their ministries.

Other groups being notified of the corporate stance include the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Pax Christi USA, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Catholics against Capital Punishment.

Previously, letters were sent to President George W. Bush, Pope John Paul II and bishops of dioceses where Religious of the Sacred Heart live and work.