Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 10.16.19

                      Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 10.16.19

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it will not review for appeal the cases of 6 men on Alabama’s Death Row. The defendants denied review are: Nathaniel Woods, Mario Woodward, Jessie Phillips, Gregory Hunt, Demetrius Frazier and Cedric Floyd.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released a decision Tuesday in the case of James McWilliams which grants him a new sentencing hearing because Alabama had violated his right to the assistance of a psychiatrist in evaluating, preparing, and presenting his case and in rebutting the prosecution's aggravating issues.

Thank you to H. Grady Bradshaw Library Archivist Robin Brown who had a wonderful surprise for us. She wondered whether we would be interested in being archived at the local library and had in fact already started a folder for us. Of course we are honored even though of course the UNA library will be the number one archive. Esther, whose local library it is, calls it the best place in town and here is one more proof. Every opportunity to BE THE OTHER VOICE confirms not only that we are that but allows us to fulfill our mission.

We would also like to give a shout out of appreciation to Sister Sara Burress, OSB who is the director of Pastoral Care at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Birmingham and who is giving some thought of how to find a way to donate books to Alabama prisons and jails. I am sure she would appreciate any helpful suggestions.

Last week was World Day Against the Death Penalty and we were pleased to see three catholic bishops on a round table discussion. A little while ago we wrote a letter to Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop of Galveston-Houston asking him to issue a Pastoral Letter to remind the faithful of the position of the church on the death penalty. In 2005 we were able to get the Archdiocese of Mobile to sign on to a moratorium. For those of us with Catholic roots it is difficult to understand what took the church so long to take a stand against state murder, although of course we are grateful that it is finally doing so. Slowly, the US RC Bishops are speaking out against the death penalty. In the past 4 weeks many State Bishops have spoken out against the death penalty and now the US Conference of Catholic Bishops is emerging in official statements.

We continue to thank anonymous donors who gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button and of course also those who gave directly. We also thank all those who recently joined our Facebook page.  Our thanks to all who believe in what we do and stand with us. You make a difference!

                                                                 Esther