On Nov. 24, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston led a pilgrimage in Huntsville, which we may know, is infamous for its executions of those inmates on death row at the state penitentiary.
The pilgrimage was to begin in front of Planned Parenthood, where unborn children are aborted, and would continue through the streets of Huntsville, until reaching the Walls Unit, where capital punishment is administered.
I felt a desire to participate in this pilgrimage because there were several intentions for which I wanted to pray. I wanted to pray that our society might deepen and extend its respect for human life — to include children in womb, people with debilitating illnesses and even those guilty of heinous crimes, who themselves have lost respect for life.
I wanted to pray for the children whose lives were cut short — even before they were born. I felt a desire to pray for their parents, that they might experience the love and mercy of the author of life.
I wanted to pray for the victims of heinous and violent crimes, that they might encounter the just and merciful love of Jesus, enjoy his eternal presence and intercede for their surviving family and friends who mourn their loss.
I wanted to pray, as well, for those inmates who have been executed in Huntsville and those on death row. I wanted to pray that they would repent of their crimes and know God’s justice and loving mercy. I wanted to pray for a society safe from violent crimes.
As you could see, I had a lot to pray for! I was pleased that Rick Doucette, the archdiocesan associate director of the Office of Social Concerns, organized a group that made the pilgrimage from San Antonio.
The organizers of the pilgrimage from the Texas Catholic Conference were amazed at the number of people who participated in the pilgrimage — some 600 persons from various parts of Texas (and even one from Florida).
We began the day at the local parish church, St. Thomas the Apostle, where Cardinal DiNardo presided at Mass. I concelebrated, along with a dozen priests.
Participants filled the small church, the parish hall and the covered outdoor courtyard. Cardinal DiNardo reminded us at Mass that we were there not to make political statements, but to pray and beseech God that a culture of life might grow in our society.
After Mass we made our way a few blocks from the church to the local Planned Parenthood facility. The weather was cool and cloudy; rain was in the forecast. Once the attendees gathered, the cardinal led us in praying the rosary. We proceeded to walk towards the state penitentiary with the cardinal leading us.
I led one of the decades, the pastor of the local parish, Father Steve Paine, led the third, and other participants followed suit. We walked just over a mile to the Walls Unit, the state penitentiary. As we approached the Walls Unit, the tall, old, barb-wire topped walls further diminished the light that managed to seep through the clouds to illumine our steps.
The humidity became palpable, and a stench discernable, as if the culture of death, covered by the sterile environment that mutes the silent cries of the unborn children “eliminated” at Planned Parenthood, were unveiled by the dirty, old, barb-wired brick walls of the penitentiary.
I invite us to ponder and pray over the wise words of our Catholic tradition: “the church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor. … Today, in fact … the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity ‘are very rare, if not practically non-existent.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2267)
Thus, the church allows for the death penalty in order that society might be protected. If there are other ways of protecting society from violent aggressors, capital punishment becomes morally illicit. I add: “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.” (CCC, 2270) The church values God’s gift of life from conception to natural death.
I suggest that, in order that these teachings of the church regarding life and death truly penetrate our minds and hearts, that we begin and end our reflection of these teachings — like the Pilgrimage for Life — with prayer.