This was the title of an article in the January 7th edition of the UM Connection, the bi-weekly periodical of the Baltimore Annual Conference. Here are excerpts from the article:
“While there are many social justice issues in which United Methodists feel compelled to engage, sometimes due to events and timing, it is appropriate to prioritize one issue. At this time, area United Methodists are being asked to join other interfaith groups throughout Maryland to focus on the repeal of the death penalty. Now is the time to abolish capital punishment in Maryland. Why now?
“Since our state legislature established the MD Commission on Capital Punishment, there have been a series of hearings in which there was overwhelming testimony to support a repeal. Testimony was given explaining how unfair and arbitrary the system is and how the death penalty is implemented in a racially and geographically biased manner. Furthermore, experts testified that the death penalty is not a deterrent.
“Bishop John Schol told the commission that The United Methodist Church ‘opposes capital punishment and urges its elimination from all criminal codes.’ Repeal legislation must pass out of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to come before the full Senate for a vote. For the past several years, the committee has not had the needed votes. Now is the time to contact our state legislators to express our opinion.”
The State Senator for the Damascus area is Rona Kramer.
Contact her by mail at: James Senate Office Building, Room 214, 11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
by phone at (410) 841-3625, (301) 858-3625, 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3625 (toll free)
by e-mail at: su.dm.etats.etanes|remark.anor#su.dm.etats.etanes|remark.anor
You can find your state senator at www.mdelect.net
(The complete article from the UM Connection is available on the Baltimore Washington Conference website)
