Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, others honored by DPF

“But over and over again, it was very clear that there cannot be a perfect system. And what kind of system of justice is there if there’s even one person who’s put to death wrongly because of the misapplication of capital punishment.”

So spoke Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois in accepting the 2011 Courageous Leadership Award at Death Penalty Focus’ 20th annual awards dinner on May 12 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

On March 9, the governor not only abolished the death penalty in his state, but also commuted the sentences of all 15 inmates still on death row to serving life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Gov. Quinn, a Catholic, reported that when he signed the law on Ash Wednesday he could feel the eyes of Abe Lincoln from a nearby portrait looking right over his shoulder. He also pointed out that Illinois was the most representative state, demography-wise, in the whole United States with its racial and ethnic diversity.

“It seems to me if Illinois’ members of the general assembly and the governor tell the country — and, indeed, the world — that it’s time to end the death penalty, that should be listened to very carefully by the other states of our union. And I really look forward to working with you. I really admire the work of Death Penalty Focus.”

The governor noted that he partly got his commitment and idealism from the Sisters of St. Joseph, who taught him in elementary school. A West Coast branch of that religious community — the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange — were also honored at the dinner with the Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award.

“We must continue to strive for the abolition of the death penalty in whatever form it takes: in our prisons, on our streets, and in cases where governments believe that murder is due process,” declared Sister Sharon Becker, assistant general superior, in accepting the award on behalf of all women religious in the United States defending the human rights of the poor and marginalized.

Sister Becker told The Tidings that many members of her 160-some community visit and pray with imprisoned men, women and young adults, while working in a variety of ministries to promote ecological justice and the eradication of poverty.

“We think of the death penalty as broader than just the death penalty that we have in the states,” she explained. “Because sometimes groups condemn other groups to death. And we need to address all the violence that exists because they’re all wrong. The [official] death penalty is wrong. But all forms of death penalties are wrong, from gang violence to discrimination against people of different religions, cultures — whatever. We work towards our prisons becoming more rehab centers vs. tucking people away and forgetting about them.”
Since 1995, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange have run Taller San Jose in Santa Ana, which assists youths coming out of juvenile detention camps and prisons.

‘Conviction’ star honored

Also honored at the affair were The Death Penalty Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; producer and director Thomas Schlamme and Stephen Bright, president and senior counsel, Southern Center for Human Rights; and actress Hilary Swank for her role in the movie “Conviction.” The 2010 drama was based on the true story of Betty Anne Waters, who with the help of Barry Scheck from the Innocence Project exonerated her wrongfully convicted brother of murder in 1980.

Swank said the 450 people present were the “true heroes,” while she just played one in a movie. “But playing Betty Anne Waters in ‘Conviction’ really allowed me to live the issue,” she pointed out. “And I have to tell you, the experience moved me deeply. Betty Anne’s devotion to her brother was extraordinary and greater than most of us can even comprehend.

“‘Conviction’ also demonstrated that when a crime is committed people want easy answers, and they want them fast,” she warned. “After all, it’s understandable. You want to lock up the bad guys. But justice is not served by locking up the wrong person.”
In addition, DPF’s annual event introduced the advocacy organization’s new executive director, Jeanne Woodford. Under her watch as warden of San Quentin State Prison, the execution of four individuals were carried out. The mother of five then went on to head the California Department of Corrections, retiring four years ago.

Coming from a Catholic family, she’s repeatedly said that she always believed only God had the right to take a life, but as warden was required to oversee executions. At the dinner, Woodford said she felt that all of her 30 years of experience in criminal justice, both good and bad, was leading her to a greater purpose.

“I believe I found my purpose,” she said. “I will be working for equality and justice in advocating alternatives to the death penalty.”
She went on to say that the public simply didn’t have the hard facts how capital punishment harms society on many levels. “The death penalty is about retribution,” she pointed out. “As long as we think there is room in our justice system for retribution, it is impossible to lay a foundation for reform for the rest of our criminal justice system. Ending the death penalty will allow us to create a fair and just criminal justice system that seeks to heal and restore, a justice system that truly protects people and prevents violence, a system that serves every member of our society.”

‘Waste of money’

Mike Farrell, president of the board of directors of Death Penalty Focus, said he wasn’t bothered by the fact that executions were done while Jeanne Woodford was San Quentin’s warden, knowing that she was always personally against capital punishment.

“Now you hear that from politicians all the time, but I think with Jeanne there was a particular emotional crisis about carrying out the law,” he told The Tidings. “So I think we’re really lucky to get her, although we hated to lose Lance Lindsey, our former executive director.”

The actor of “M*A*S*H” fame also was buoyed by Gov. Jerry Brown recently canceling plans to build a new death row. “We had been asking him to do that, and hoping he would do that, because it is an insane waste of money. And what we hope the next step will be is that he’ll commute all the people on death row to life without parole. Absolutely, because at a time when we’re in a critical budget crisis, he can save hundreds of millions of dollars. Actually, the ACLU figured a billion dollars over five years.”

Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala, who also serves on DPF’s board, concurred. “I think that’s wonderful,” he said. “We don’t need to be spending money on a new death row. What we need to be doing is changing the whole criminal justice system. Obviously, being a member of Death Penalty Focus, I believe there shouldn’t be a death penalty in our society — that it should be commuted to life without the possibility of parole. So there’s no need to have another death row. We just need to change the system.”