Living the Questions is at

www.livingthequestions.com/

Sr. Helen Prejean:

Session 1 is blurbed here, and below as part of the general blurb. 2-5 are also here.

(Read the overall blurb below-- a letter to Pastor Chuck Booker 5-11-2016.)

Some of the topics discussed in the 1st session, T=22:58, will include, what are some of the conflicts in the human heart that the death penalty causes us to struggle with? What criteria have come to be used in determining if the death penalty is worth it? What aspects of racism are inherent in the practice of the death penalty in the United States? What are some inconsistencies between the words and actions of government officials on this subject?

After viewing the DVD, some of the topics discussed in the 2nd Session will be:
--Describe some of the theological ideas and behaviors that Sr. Helen had to overcom are in her own life of privilege.  
--How did Sr. Helen's perspective change when she "woke up" to the Gospel of Jesus being on the side of the poor?  
--According to Sr. Helen, what is one of the gifts of the Middle Class?
--What are some of the characteristics of the "threatening" community Jesus inaugurated?


After viewing the DVD, some of the topics discussed in the 3rd Session will be:
--How does Sr. Helen see Jesus being associated with the unclean of our day?
--Describe some of the recent changes in Catholic teaching regarding the death penalty.
--"What are you for? Are you for life or death? Are you for vengeance or compassion? Are you for love or hate?" 

After viewing the DVD, some of the topics discussed in the 4th Session will be:
--What are some of the realizations folks have to come to, before forgiveness is possible?
--How are victims' families re-victimized by the cultural expectations surrounding the death penalty?  
--What are some of the practical expressions of living a life of reconciliation?

After viewing the DVD, some of the topics discussed in the 5th Session will be:
--Sr. Prejean discusses several books. List some of the issues and stories she emphasizes from these "cloisters".
--Sr. Prejean discusses some of the characteristics of the kingdom. List these "marks" and how they can, in your life, be utilized in questioning capital punishment.

-------- Original message --------
From: (facilitator's email)
Date: 5/11/2016 20:45 (GMT-05:00) 
To: (pastor's email) 
Subject: Session 1 Prejean blurb 

Chuck-

Edit as you wish.   (-:

Bill

Questioning Capital Punishment with Sr. Helen Prejean is a five session DVD study featuring one of the world's leading authorities and outspoken critics of state-sponsored execution.

1: Crossing the Breach
2: What in God's Name?
3: A Change of Heart
4: Radical Forgiveness
5: Next Steps

A Roman Catholic Sister and leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, Sr. Helen has ministered to numerous inmates on death row, and has authored two books based on those experiences, Dead Man Walking and The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions. She is the founder of the Death Penalty Discourse Center in New Orleans.

Some of the topics discussed in the 1st session, T=22:58, will include, what are some of the conflicts in the human heart that the death penalty causes us to struggle with? What criteria have come to be used in determining if the death penalty is worth it? What aspects of racism are inherent in the practice of the death penalty in the United States? What are some inconsistencies between the words and actions of government officials on this subject?

Discussion will be, as usual, free wheeling, in an accepting atmosphere. Participate or just reflect, as you wish. All are welcome!

Partially composed with Voice Recognition on my Galaxy S2
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"Do unto others 20% better than you would expect them to do unto you, to correct for subjective error."
Linus Pauling, 1901-94, Nobel Laureate 1954 & 1962, the only person to have two unshared prizes.