Advocating against the death penalty on Capitol Hill

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 6 April 2001

WASHINGTON -- "You all have some moral and religious arguments regarding the death penalty, and I want to hear them."

This greeting from a senator's aide welcomed 11 members of a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Central States learning tour delegation as they prepared to advocate on death penalty issues in the nation's capital. The Feb. 22 to 24 tour brought Kansas and Iowa residents face to face with staffers from two U.S. senators' and two representatives' offices.

As the delegation learned at a briefing with an MCC U.S. Washington Office worker, the first federal execution in 38 years is scheduled for May 16, 2001. Discussion with congressional staffers focused on the National Death Penalty Moratorium Act, introduced by Sen. Russell Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin. This bill would suspend executions by the federal government, recommend that states do the same, and establish a national commission on the death penalty to review the issue at federal and state levels.

Delegation members presented many arguments against the death penalty: it is administered arbitrarily, with differences in race and geography; and it does not guarantee effective protection of society, nor always closure for victims' families.

While all four politicians are in favor of the death penalty at least for heinous crimes, delegation members felt that staffers listened with respect to their input. Staffers with some knowledge of faith-based communities recognize that Mennonites are a Christian peace church, so they assume that Mennonites are indeed against the death penalty.

"Speaking with congressional staffers re-affirmed my belief that we need to speak up, speak out, and be confident in voicing matters of conscience," said learning tour organizer Rachel Stutzman, MCC Central States peace and justice coordinator.

Here are some comments the Mennonite group heard from congressional staffers: "[The member] supports the death penalty for heinous crimes. DNA proof of innocence is compelling. Moral arguments certainly can't be ignored. He knows of the problems in various states, particularly Illinois. He supports faith-based efforts for rehabilitation and restoration."

Two staffers told the group they were personally influenced by the anti-death penalty work of activist Sister Helen Prejean. Others also remarked, "The death penalty is not for revenge." One staffer even cited God's marking of Cain, after he murdered Abel, as an act to prevent vengeance.

The delegation brought together participants from many walks of life, from a research scientist to a magazine columnist to an insurance worker to a high school student. In addition to Stutzman, of Newton, Kan., participants included Rose and Larry Buschman (Garden City, Kan.); Kim Brenneman, Christopher R. Kurtz and Virginia Showalter (Kansas City, Kan.); Joel and Perry Krehbiel (Moundridge, Kan.); Harold Regier (Newton, Kan.); Ken Egli (Washington, Iowa); and Norman Unternahrer (Wayland, Iowa).

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org