Dioceses Participate in Movement to Abolish the Death Penalty

Each November 30, communities across the globe participate in International Day of Cities for Life, Cities against the Death Penalty, which takes place on the anniversary of the first abolition of the death penalty on the part of a State, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany on November 30, 1786. Specific efforts vary by location, but many cities take part by lighting up major historical, religious, or civic monuments. In turn, those illuminated monuments become symbols of a commitment to creating a world without the death penalty. This annual event has been spearheaded by the Rome-based lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio since 2002. Today, the top five nations carrying out executions are China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

In solidarity with this international movement, dioceses in Florida are marking the occasion in various ways:

Archdiocese of Miami: During Mass, several parishes will include a prayer to end the death penalty in the general intercessions.

Diocese of Orlando:  
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Outdoor Grotto, Daytona, November 30, 6:00 pm 
Multimedia incorporated to ensure the safety of all attending by sharing the Ted Talk by Lindy Lou Isonhood, as well as sharing from Mark Elliott and death row exonerees, Herman Lindsey and Clemente Aguirre

Diocese of Palm Beach: Bishop Gerald Barbarito has invited all parishes to read an announcement during Mass. 

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee:
Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola, November 30, 7:00 pm 
Speakers: Father Joe Callipare, Bishop William Wack, Father Dustin Feddon
Livestream available at:  https://www.facebook.com/PensacolaBasilica
Event Flyer

Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Tallahassee, November 30, 7:00 pm
Speakers: Father William Ganci, Ingrid Delgado, FCCB assciate director for social concerns/respect life, and two death row exonerees
Livestream available at: https://goodshepherdparish.org/ 
Event Flyer

Diocese of St. Augustine:
St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cody Enrichment Center, Jacksonville, November 30, 6:30 pm   
Speakers: Bishop Felipe Estevez, Karen Gottlieb, former chair of the Florida Public Defenders’ Capital Litigation Steering Committee, and Joseph Thornton, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry and chief of psychiatric services for University of Florida Health Shands Hospital
Livestream available at:  https://youtu.be/Vjcf0lx93oQ
Event Flyer

Diocese of St. Petersburg:
Virtual Prayer Vigil, November 30, 7:00 pm
Speakers: Bishop Gregory Parkes, Rev. Robert Schneider, Allison Ferber Miller, Capital Case Coordinator for the Office of the Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, and Herman Lindsey, Florida death row exoneree. Register at dosp.org/life.

Community of Sant'Egidio
Webinar, November 30, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm (GMT +1) / 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (Eastern)
Speakers: Experts, activists, witnesses, and civil society representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The event will end with a special lighting of the Coliseum, symbol of the global campaign against death penalty. The event is multilingual. It will be broadcast in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portoguese.
Register at:  https://www.santegidio.org/pageID/37908/langID/en/Webinar-No-Death-Penalty-Stand-4-Humanity.html