The Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) is calling for a cessation of capital punishment in the United States, citing trend towards abolishing the death penalty. The faith-based group offers several initiatives, such as the “Mercy in Action Project,” helping participants to understand upcoming executions, assist in clemency letter writing, and providing prayer resources for condemned inmates.
According to CMN’s Krisanne Murphy, the organization operates at every level within the U.S. Catholic Church, from state Catholic conferences to religious communities and includes collaboration with US Conference of the Catholic Bishops leadership. It holds monthly virtual prayer vigils, which have seen the participation of nearly two dozen bishops.
While the network’s current focus is opposing state-level executions and supporting repeal efforts, Murphy acknowledged the ongoing need to press for federal-level abolition. The U.S. federal government imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in 2021, but some inmates remain on federal death row, and over 2,000 convicts are still awaiting execution on state-level death rows.
Murphy emphasized that CMN’s mission also includes fostering a culture of life by providing training to implement restorative strategies in Catholic communities that promote healing over revenge in response to harm and violence.