Podcasts about sister helen

“Blessed are those who care about weak people. When they are in trouble, the Lord saves them.” (Psalm 41:1).   Jesus aptly sums up Psalm 41 when he says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). Some of us can learn mercy by reading about it in the Bible. Many more of us learn mercy by taking the plunge and practicing it. Some years ago, the story of Sister Helen Prejean was portrayed in the movie Dead Man Walking. Joining a correspondence program for death row inmates, she begins exchanging letters with Gary. As his execution date approaches, he asks Helen to be his spiritual guide. Helen recoils at the idea of visiting a convicted rapist and murderer, let alone ministering to him. But responding to the nudging within her soul, she overcomes her fear. Gary is cocky and arrogant, refusing to admit his guilt and insists that he is the innocent victim of a corrupt legal system. She is despised and publicly vilified by the victims' parents for spending time with Gary. How could she, a deeply religious nun, befriend this cold-blooded murderer? They are horrified and let her know it frequently. Despite these difficult barriers, Sister Helen risks her name, her reputation, her own safety, to reach across them and embrace Gary with the love of God. The more she perseveres in loving him, the more his defences begin to crumble. Finally on the night before his execution, Gary confesses to his crime and asks for God's forgiveness. She decides to stay for the execution, explaining to Gary, "the last face I want you to see before you die is not one of hatred and vengeance, but one of love and mercy." Some of us learn mercy by reading about it in our Bibles. But most of us, like Sister Helen Prejean, learn mercy by offering it to those who least deserve it, to those who are unclean, who are despised and rejected by society. How have we learned to be merciful? Or should we back up a step and ask, have we learned to be merciful? Mercy is one of God's qualities and thus becomes a characteristic of his followers. Kindness, a similar virtue, makes it into the list of the Spirit's fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Like Helen Prejean, David experiences deep loneliness in this psalm. Everyone appears to have turned against him, even his close friend. People visit him in his sick bed, acting as companions, but when they leave, they spread slander about him among the neighbours. David can endure the trials because he firmly believes that God will lift those who have "regard for the weak", those who are full of mercy. God stands opposed to the proud but lifts the weak. Peter offers this application, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble'. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). This is not a reward system, “do this and God will pay you back in kind”. This is a deep reality of the universe. It is not the proud and self sufficient who win. Mercy and love are stronger and last longer than self aggrandizement. In an age and culture that is deeply divided, in which verbal virtual bombs are launched in all directions, Christians are being called to reach across institutional, cultural, and social walls to have regard for the weak. Ask God to open your eyes that you may see the weak. And ask for a spirit of mercy. As you journey on, go with the blessing of God: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you.May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

     During her recent visit to Boise, Sister Helen Mulage from the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Nyeri stopped by Morning Light to share her beautiful vocation story, including how her family reacted to the news. Visit www.msomi.org to learn more about her Order.  

Today's episode is part of the series of interviews recorded at our Motherhouse in Paris, France. Sister Elizabeth Greim, DC, chats with two Nigerian Daughters of Charity, Sister Toyin and Sister Helen. They discuss the universality of our charism, their vocation stories, and their hopes for the Daughters around the world!

What does redemption mean to a man sentenced to death? Is capital punishment justice or vengeance? Could anyone ever forgive a murderer?These are just some of the questions behind the true story of the nun who became a spiritual adviser to men on death row at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Dead Man Walking was first a 1993 memoir by the Catholic nun and fervent death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean; later, it was adapted into an Oscar-winning movie. Sister Helen's story inspired a national conversation around the death penalty — and the opera duo Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally. Their adaptation of Sister Helen's story has become one of the most celebrated operas of the 21st century, and, with the last federal execution taking place as recently as 2021, feels as timely as ever.In her aria “This Journey,” Sister Helen's character reflects on her religious calling as she makes her way to the Angola prison for the first time. In this episode, host Rhiannon Giddens and her guests take us deeper into the true story that inspired the opera and the experiences that continue to inform Sister Helen Prejean's ministry.The GuestsThe Metropolitan Opera's 2023 production of Dead Man Walking marks the fifth time mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato has sung the role of Sister Helen. She describes the role as one that's impossible to emerge from without feeling changed. Having embodied Sister Helen so many times, DiDonato feels “much less comfortable turning a blind eye to things.”American composer Jake Heggie is best known for Dead Man Walking, the most widely performed new opera of the last 20 years. In addition to 10 other full-length operas and numerous one-acts, Heggie has composed more than 300 art songs, as well as concerti, chamber music, choral, and orchestral works. When librettist Terrence McNally proposed adapting Dead Man Walking into an opera, Heggie's “hair stood on end” and he immediately “felt and heard music.”Sister Helen Prejean is a Roman Catholic nun, the author of the memoir Dead Man Walking, and a leading voice in the effort to abolish the death penalty. She's served as a spiritual counselor to numerous convicted inmates on Death Row as well as to families of murder victims and survivors of violent crimes. Despite her wisdom, Sister Helen claims to know “boo-scat” about opera.

Dead Man Walking made her, and her cause, famous. Roman Catholic Sister Helen Prejean started her prison ministry in 1981. In 1993 she published her book Dead Man Walking, which has since been made into a movie and even an opera. In this 1993 interview, we learn what motivates, angers, and saddens Sister Helen. Get Dead Man Walking You may also enjoy my interviews with William Kunstler and Polly Nelson For more vintage interviews with celebrities, leaders, and influencers, subscribe to Now I've Heard Everything on Spotify, Apple Podcasts. or wherever you listen to podcasts.

On today's episode, I talk to musician Eva Lawitts AKA Stimmerman. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Eva has been playing music for most of her life. She played in the band Sister Helen for 14 years, and when they broke up she formed Stimmerman in 2017. As Stimmerman, she's recorded a number of albums and EPs, and her latest Undertaking will be released this May, and it's incredible! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, follow me on Twitter. Check out my free philosophy Substack where I write essays every couple months here and my old casiopop band's lost album here! And the comedy podcast I do with my wife Naomi Couples Therapy can be found here!  

RMA-Episode 102 Show Notes:   RMA-Episode 102: Tough Love in the Boogie Down Bronx. This week on RMA, Mike and Nat review the 2000 documentary “Sister Helen.” Sister Helen Travis was a recovering alcoholic and Benedictine sister who spent the last years of her life running a 23-bed halfway house in the rough-and-tumble slum of the South Bronx. She embarked upon this rugged and dangerous ministry in response to the murder of her 15-year-old son, the loss of her husband to alcoholism, and the death of her other son from drugs. In various scenes, Sister Helen asserts her will in a unique brand of tough love, in a tough environment.    We also read a new review and take a look at whether any amount of alcohol is beneficial to your health. (Spoiler: no.) All this and more, on a very special episode of Recovery in the Middle Ages.   Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite platform to get the latest episode delivered right to your devices as soon as it's released. We are a listener-supported podcast. If you like what we're doing here at RMA and want to support the show, JOIN THE RECOVERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES PATREON    Our sole mission is to help other people achieve sobriety and become their best, most authentic selves. As little as $3 a month makes a big difference and helps us keep the lights on.    https://www.patreon.com/RecoveryintheMiddleAges As always, we thank you for your support.   LINKS:    Sister Helen   Recovery In the News   The Sober Together App   Recovery News You Can Use, Any Day of the Week:   www.soberliningsplaybook.com LISTEN TO RMA ON YOUTUBE PLEASE leave us a 5 star review on I-Tunes if you're enjoying the show and SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes.    You can reach us by email at: MikeR@middleagesrecovery.com Natx@middleagesrecovery.com   Send comments, complaints, death threats, ideas and requests to be interviewed. We'll talk to anyone!   Check out the website:   Www.middleagesrecovery.com    While you're there, buy a T-Shirt and support your favorite recovery podcast.   We all have a story. Tell us yours and we'll share it on the show!   E-Mail your story to miker@middleagesrecovery.com   FOLLOW US ON TWITTER  Join the Facebook Page! Exciting things are happening there!   We also have a Facebook Group! Request to join the group. It's a private space for continuing the discussion of what Nat and Mike talk about on the podcast. Hope to see you there.   If you're in trouble with substance abuse and need help, reach out. There are thousands of people who have put problems with addiction in their rear-view mirrors and you can be one of them. While we neither endorse nor condemn any particular program, the sheer number of available AA and NA meetings suggest that reaching out to those organizations would be a good first step (but maybe not the last step), on your road to recovery.     https://www.aa.org/ https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/   Marijuana Anonymous (just in case):   This Naked Mind

Sister Helen Prejean is the founder of the Ministry Against the Death Penalty and the author of "Deadman Walking: The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate." She discusses her work with death row inmates and talks about why the death penalty should be abolished. Sister Helen will speak at the UO on October 27, 2022 as a guest of the UO's Prison Education Program.

Welcome to the Munsons at the Movies podcast. Each episode we delve into the filmography and impact of a randomly selected actor.  In this episode, we explore the career of Susan Sarandon. Arguably best known for her roles as Louise in Thelma & Louise (1991), Annie in Bull Durham (1988), and Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking (1995), Sarandon has put together over 5 decades worth of acting performances. Joined for the second time by guest Munson, Laura Adams, we discuss how Sarandon broke Case's box office spreadsheet, the wild story behind how she got her first role, how much we collectively love Bull Durham, and detail all of the activism work she's done over the years. Where does Sarandon rank on the Munson Meter? Listen to find out.

“Blessed are those who care about weak people. When they are in trouble, the Lord saves them.” (Psalm 41:1).  Jesus aptly sums up Psalm 41 when he says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). Some of us can learn mercy by reading about it in the Bible. Many more of us learn mercy by taking the plunge and practicing it. Some years ago, the story of Sister Helen Prejean was portrayed in the movie Dead Man Walking. Joining a correspondence program for death row inmates, she begins exchanging letters with Gary. As his execution date approaches, he asks Helen to be his spiritual guide. Helen recoils at the idea of visiting a convicted rapist and murderer, let alone ministering to him. But responding to the nudging within her soul, she overcomes her fear. Gary is cocky and arrogant, refusing to admit his guilt and insists that he is the innocent victim of a corrupt legal system. She is despised and publicly vilified by the victims' parents for spending time with Gary. How could she, a deeply religious nun, befriend this cold-blooded murderer? They are horrified and let her know it frequently. Despite these difficult barriers, Sister Helen risks her name, her reputation, her own safety, to reach across them and embrace Gary with the love of God. The more she perseveres in loving him, the more his defences begin to crumble. Finally on the night before his execution, Gary confesses to his crime and asks for God's forgiveness. She decides to stay for the execution, explaining to Gary, "the last face I want you to see before you die is not one of hatred and vengeance, but one of love and mercy." Some of us learn mercy by reading about it in our Bibles. But most of us, like Sister Helen Prejean, learn mercy by offering it to those who least deserve it, to those who are unclean, who are despised and rejected by society. How have we learned to be merciful? Or should we back up a step and ask, have we learned to be merciful? Mercy is one of God's qualities and thus needs to become a characteristic of his followers. Kindness, a similar virtue, makes it into the list of the Spirit's fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Like Helen Prejean, David experiences deep loneliness in this psalm. Everyone appears to have turned against him, even his close friend. People visit him in his sick bed, acting as companions, but when they leave, they spread slander about him among the neighbours. David can endure the trials because he firmly believes that God will lift up those who have "regard for the weak", those who are full of mercy. God stands opposed to the proud but lifts up the weak. Peter offers this application, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble'. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). This is not a reward system, “do this and God will pay you back in kind”. This is a deep reality of the universe. It is not the proud and self sufficient who win. Mercy and love are stronger and last longer that self aggrandizement. In an age and culture that is deeply divided, in which verbal virtual bombs are launched in all directions, Christians are being called to reach across institutional, cultural, and social walls to have regard for the weak. As you walk through the day (today or tomorrow) ask God to open your eyes that you may see the weak. And ask for a spirit of mercy.

Paul J. Williams is a gifted comedian, actor and singer based in Dallas.  As a comedian, he has appeared on countless cruises, multiple comedy clubs across the U.S. and on the MTV/LOGO Network comedy special, ONE NIGHT STAND UP.  But, he is most well-known for his “altar ego”, Sister Helen Holy.  As a classically trained tenor, Paul J. has performed with the New York Choral Artists, Orpheus Chamber Singers and Turtle Creek Chorale.  As a hobby, Paul is a classic car buff and currently owns a 1970 Buick Riviera which has won multiple awards.

To move away from the death penalty as a country, the public needs be able to see inside the process and understand its effects. Sister Helen Prejean has dedicated much of her life to ministering to those affected by the death penalty, from death row inmates to guards to families of murder victims, and has worked to help the public and the church change their thinking on this issue. Michael Semanchik talks with Sister Helen about her keynote address at the conference and the importance of sharing personal stories to unveil the injustice of capital punishment. Host Michael Semanchik is the managing attorney for the California Innocence Project. Sister Helen Prejean is known around the world for her tireless work advocating against the death penalty. She has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on capital punishment and in shaping the Catholic Church's vigorous opposition to all executions.

To move away from the death penalty as a country, the public needs be able to see inside the process and understand its effects. Sister Helen Prejean has dedicated much of her life to ministering to those affected by the death penalty, from death row inmates to guards to families of murder victims, and has worked to help the public and the church change their thinking on this issue. Michael Semanchik talks with Sister Helen about her keynote address at the conference and the importance of sharing personal stories to unveil the injustice of capital punishment. Host Michael Semanchik is the managing attorney for the California Innocence Project. Sister Helen Prejean is known around the world for her tireless work advocating against the death penalty. She has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on capital punishment and in shaping the Catholic Church's vigorous opposition to all executions.

Today we have a very special episode with our eldest living missioner, Sister Helen Werner who is 102 years old! Sister Helen has been a Maryknoll Sister for 84 years and just returned to the U.S. from spending 35 years in Guatemala as a teacher and running a nutrition center to feed the hungry. You will learn how she has been making God's love visible across the globe for literally the past 100 years!

durée : 00:25:26 - Les Grands entretiens - par : Judith Chaine - Dans ce 3ème volet de nos entretiens, la mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato revient sur les différentes actions de sensibilisation qu'elle mène en milieu pénitentiaire. Elle se remémore quelques expériences particulièrement émouvantes avec certains détenus de la prison de Sing Sing à New York.

Episode NotesHelen tells the story of how she first became involved in working with inmates on death row. She let's us hear how she got to know her first few clients and how tough it was. At times Helen chokes up thinking about the things she witnessed in her career that brought her to work with many people she would get to know quite well and then have to watch them be put to death in the electric chair.Her experiences on death row lead her to a life mission of trying to abolish the death penalty. It's the old adage that while the crimes people commit are horrendous, two wrongs don't make a right. Furthermore, there is a deep layer of systemic racism, poverty, and mental illness that creates a socio-economic link to those who are likely to end up on death row. The fact the death penalty was such a hot topic, combined with her personal experience, Sister Helen knew it was part of her mission to write a book in order to educate the public. Dead Man Walking was not only a best selling book, but it also went on to become an academy award-winning film, and popular theater play.Helen is a great role model for creating deep, intrinsic meaning in your work. She has been working tirelessly since the 1980's toward educating people about murder, the death penalty, and compassion. She speaks openly in the episode about her struggles while doing this line of work and shares that the most challenging hurdle was figuring out how to support victim's families. While it has been a lifelong seesaw, with many conflicts, no one could argue that she has done absolutely incredible work to remind all of us how we should strive to live our best lives.Sister Helen is an incredible storyteller, inspirational speaker, and teacher. While we spent the majority of time discussing death row and what it takes to have compassion for someone who has committed such terrible crimes, we also touched on a number of other subjects. We talked about the importance of learning, how to help people regain their lives if they're given a second chance after jail, and how similar we are, no matter what people see on the outside.10 Things To Keep In Mind When It Comes To CompassionWe are all 99.9% identical. This connection between people is the secret of life. It is what makes everything hum and come to life.Empathy is an appreciation for others. You can not be “in their shoes”. You haven't been through what they've been through. You can hear what they're saying and feel with you. You can walk with them, and go through things with them.Keep your promises. Most people who require forgiveness in the first place have trouble being trustworthy. Be sure to only make promises that you can keep. Keep your work, show consistency and do not waiver as you build trust.Be unconditional in your forgiveness. The root of “forgive” is the Latin word “perdonare,” meaning “to give completely, without reservation”. There is no need to hold back. Hurtful acts and forgiveness are two separate events.Be patient in waiting for “sorry”. The forgiver chooses when they feel sorry. Everyone heals according to their own timeline. You do not choose when someone forgives you. So be prepared to wait. But you can choose to forgive others and steer toward peace immediately.Every relationship is mutual. We're not the wonderful, generous people, forgiving the poor, weak, wounded human beings. They give us a lot too. All human exchanges provide mutual gifts in some way.Create programs, groups, classes, or partnerships that allow for people to be on a similar playing field. There is so much unlevel ground and unfair advantages in society. Given equal circumstances you would be tested in a way that would lead you to do that too. So level the playing field when you forgive and get to know someone.Rewards and punishment won't change the root cause of behavior. We must strive to keep innocent people safe. And, we must hold people accountable. The question is “what does accountability look like?” How do we define accountability? Remember that the wrongdoing is separate from the best course of action for next steps. Everyone has a reason, but not an excuse for their behavior. Some may have a learning disability, trauma, addiction, mental illness, poverty, lack of sleep, malnutrition, or immaturity. If your brain's ability for effective judgment is impaired. It's impaired, as simple as that.Give everyone a voice and choice. There is dignity simply in being human. Not because of any results, or circumstances. But, simply in being human we should have input into our lives and decision making.Memorable Quotes“Find work and purpose in your life and do what you love. Do what you love. Let what you love be what you do to find purpose and do what you love. Not to try to make a lot of money and all that. Do what you love.”“Over 90% of people on death row were abused as kids. I mean, that's massive. And then one day they take it out on some innocent victim.”“When people rub us the wrong way, always be asking, what am I supposed to learn? What is this life event teaching me? What can I learn from this? That's huge.”Guest BioSister Helen Prejean is known around the world for her tireless work against the death penalty. She has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on capital punishment and in shaping vigorous opposition to stop executions and start societal compassion.In 1982, after moving into the St. Thomas Housing Project in New Orleans in order to live and work with the poor, Sister Helen became the spiritual advisor to death row inmates. After witnessing executions, she realized that this lethal ritual would remain unchallenged unless its secrecy was stripped away.She wrote a book, “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States”. Dead Man Walking hit the shelves when national support for the death penalty was close to 90%. The book ignited a national debate on capital punishment and inspired an Academy Award-winning movie, a play, and an opera.Sister Helen continues her work, dividing her time between educating the public, campaigning against the death penalty, counseling individual death row prisoners, and working with murder victims' family members. She also embarked on a speaking tour that continues to this day.Best Modern Mobile Recording Site: SquadcastFOLLOW Sister HelenSr Helen Prejean Site - Sr Helen Dot OrgFacebook - SisterHelenPrejeanTwitter - @HelenPrejeanInstagram - @helenprejean FOLLOW JUSTIN (JustTries)Website - JustTriesHOMEInstagram - @JustTriesYouTube - Just TriesTwitter - @JustTries_Tiktok - @justtriesPinterest - JustTriesFacebook - Just TriesCONNECT WITH JUST KEEP LEARNINGWebsite - JKLHOMEInstagram - @JustKeepLearning.CaTiktok - @justkeeplearning.caFacebook - Just Keep LearningFree Group -  JKL Goal Setting CommunityWe appreciate you being here! Be sure to leave the podcast, “Just Keep Learning” ratings and reviews because it will help people who need it be better able to find it. Also, if you want a shoutout, simply share an image of the episode, you listening, or your takeaways and share it @JustTries anywhere on social!Reach out anytime! Text your questions to JustTries at +1 (313) 710-5499

From her world-famous book "Dead Man Walking" to a life spent educating the public about the inhumanity of the death penalty, the work of activist nun Sister Helen Prejean is known around the globe. What is less widely known is the story of how Sister Helen came to do this work and, as the description for her latest memoir "River of Fire" notes, how she evolved in her “spiritual journey from praying for God to solve the world's problems to engaging full-tilt in working to transform societal injustices.” In this special conversation for Rattling the Bars, TRNN Executive Producer Eddie Conway speaks with Sister Helen about "River of Fire" and about the deep historical roots of the racist, colonialist violence that is embodied today in America's prison-industrial complex.Read the transcript of this interview: https://therealnews.com/from-dead-man-walking-to-fighting-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-sister-helen-prejeans-journeyPre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Cameron GranadinoHelp us continue producing Rattling the Bars by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod-rtbSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-pod-rtbGet Rattling the Bars updates: https://therealnews.com/up-pod-rtbLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

Season 5, episode 5, of Messy Jesus Business podcast, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. Photos by Scott Langley. "We are called to create, where nothing exists." - Sister Helen Prejean LISTEN HERE: IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh talks with Sister Helen Prejean, who is known for her work to end the death penalty. They discuss how Sister Helen became a minister to Pat Sonnier on death row, which led her to work for justice. "A fire began to burn in my heart," she says. Sister Julia and Sister Helen also talk about how the Gospel calls the Church to be among the poor and on the margins. "To engage in social justice means you're going to...take on the sufferings of people who are voiceless and made to suffer. And you're going to undertake systemic change," Sister Helen explains. Sister Helen also talks about how storytelling has a power to change hearts and minds, and the true meaning of justice. "Justice means that everybody's got a fair shake, and they've got equal access to liberties and freedom and a way to have a livelihood and a life." ABOUT THE GUEST: Sister Helen Prejean is known around the world for her tireless work against the death penalty. She has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on capital punishment and in shaping the Catholic Church's vigorous opposition to all executions. Photo by Scott Langley. Born on April 21, 1939, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1957. After studies in the USA and Canada, she spent the following years teaching high school, and serving as the Religious Education Director at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in New Orleans and the Formation Director for her religious community. In 1982, she moved into the St. Thomas Housing Project in New Orleans in order to live and work with the poor. While there, Sister Helen began corresponding with Patrick Sonnier, who had been sentenced to death for the murder of two teenagers. Two years later, when Patrick Sonnier was put to death in the electric chair, Sister Helen was there to witness his execution. In the following months, she became spiritual advisor to another death row inmate, Robert Lee Willie, who was to meet the same fate as Sonnier. After witnessing these executions, Sister Helen realized that this lethal ritual would remain unchallenged unless its secrecy was stripped away, and so she sat down and wrote a book, Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States. Dead Man Walking hit the shelves when national support for the death penalty was over 80% and, in Sister Helen's native Louisiana, closer to 90%. The book ignited a national debate on capital punishment and it inspired an Academy Award winning movie, a play and an opera. Sister Helen also embarked on a speaking tour that continues to this day. Sister Helen works with people of all faiths and those who follow no established faith, but her voice has had a special resonance with her fellow Catholics. Over the decades, Sister Helen has made personal approaches to two popes, John Paul II and Pope Francis, urging them to establish the Catholic Church's position as unequivocally opposed to capital punishment under any circumstances. After Sister Helen's urging, under John Paul II the catechism was revised to strengthen the church's opposition to executions, although it allowed for a very few exceptions. Not long after meeting with Sister Helen in August of 2018, Pope Francis announced new language of the Catholic Catechism which declares that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, with no exceptions. Today, although capital punishment is still on the books in 29 states in the USA, it has fallen into disuse in most of those states. Prosecutors and juries alike are turning away from death sentences,

Meet the 82-year-old radical Catholic nun who's the most prominent campaigner against the death penalty in the US. Sister Helen Prejean wrote ‘Dead Man Walking', which became the movie (Susan Sarandon played Helen). In this episode you'll hear about the horrifying close calls, when prisoners have been spared moments before their execution and other statistics that have us confront our humanity. But first, why did Sister Helen become a nun and… how do you handle a life without sex!?   Sister Helen's website: https://www.sisterhelen.org/    Read Dead Man Walking: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/OR5vAA    Sister Helen has a memoir, River of Fire: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/2rYLmD  Find out more about Sarah Wilson: www.sarahwilson.com    Subscribe to Sarah's Substack newsletter: https://sarahwilson.substack.com/    Get your copy of Sarah book, This One Wild and Precious Life: https://amzn.to/3vs3tf2    Connect on Instagram: www.instagram.com/_sarahwilson_  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we're going back to our first interview of 70 Over 70 with Sister Helen Prejean, who has dedicated her life to ending the death penalty in America. Sister Helen's interview helped set the tone for our show, and as 70 Over 70 comes to an end—yup, we've only got a few episodes left—we wanted to revisit this first conversation and share Sister Helen's thoughts on what it really means to be present, how to show up for others, and why gratitude is so important at any stage of life. --  Know someone who should be on 70 Over 70? We're looking for all types of stories and people to feature at the top of the show. To nominate yourself or someone else, email 70over70@pineapple.fm or call 302-659-7070 and tell us your name, age, where you're from and what you want to talk about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We love doing episodes suggested by our listeners!  Mel wrote to ask us to track down Sister Helen Prejean….a Catholic nun who has spent her life campaigning to scrap the death penalty.  Sister Helen's the nun from the Hollywood film, Dead Man Walking.   It took us four months, but we finally had a chance to sit down to talk with this remarkable woman.  Sister Helen tells us why she took up her life-long campaign…..and why she believes President Joe Biden might just be the man to stop the death sentence, once and for all.   You're going to love our chat with Sister Helen Prejean.   Todays Headlines Commonwealth Future Fuels plan to provide EV charging stations, boost grid Obama warns of Pacific future at COP26 Perth nurse charged over alleged vaccine fraud Darwin remains on alert over super spreader fears Astroworld attendee sues Scott for $1 million Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast  Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of the 1 Girl Revolution Podcast features Sister Helen Prejean, founder of the Ministry Against the Death Penalty, advocate, and author of “Dead Man Walking.” Sister Helen may be best known for her bestselling book that was turned into the Oscar Award winning film, “Dead Man Walking”, but Sister Helen is so much more. Sister Helen has dedicated her entire life to being a vocal advocate for the incarcerated population and particularly for those on death row. The Ministry Against the Death Penalty (MADP) fosters creative, reflective and educational programs that awaken hearts and minds, inspire social change, and strengthen our world's commitment to human rights. In this episode, you'll hear:   Sister Helen's life story;  The story of how she decided to become a nun and what her life as a nun has been like; The story of how she was asked to write Patrick Sonnier on death row and how their interactions changed the trajectory of her life; How she got involved in the work she does on death row and why she's dedicated her life to the incarcerated population - particularly those on death row; Why we should all care and what we can do to learn more about incarceration and those on death row; And so much more. For more on Sister Helen and her work, please visit: www.1GirlRevolution.com/sisterhelen  

There's perhaps no other name in history more ubiquitous with death penalty abolition than Sister Helen Prejean. Her book “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States” sparked a national conversation around capital punishment and inspired the Academy Award winning film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. A stark ally of the Sinclair's, Sister Helen discusses our current state in American criminal justice with Jodie and Billy and her tireless work to end all executions in the United States. Don't miss this episode. To learn more about Sister Helen Prejean, visit her website and follow her on Twitter. 

Philthy 'Animal' Taylor's sister Helen was one of the co-founders of Motörheadbangers fan club in 1979, along with his dad. On this episode she joins us to share her childhood memories of growing up with Phil and spending time on the road with Motörhead during those extraordinary years of the late 70's and early 80's. Hosted by Howard H Smith. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the third episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bong Podcast! On this episode, your hosts MacDizzle420 and Joya G take us back to highschool! MacDizzle takes us on her sneaking out journeys while Joya fills us in on why you never wanted to end up in Sister Helen's office. We promise you'll enjoy it! You can also watch this episode on Weedtube.com Starring: Macdizzle420: @macdizzle420 Joya G: @thejoyaride Produced by: Arend Richard and DopeDev

On this episode of Walk in Faith, Craig Syracusa interviews Sister Helen Prejean. Sister Helen is a leading advocate for abolition of the death penalty and for elimination of social and economic unfairness in the criminal-justice system. She is also the author of Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States and The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.To advance her work, she asked RENEW International to create a small-group resource that explores Catholic teaching on the death penalty. Created in partnership with the Catholic Mobilizing Network, Dignity and the Death Penalty helps participants reflect on the fairness of the criminal justice system, arguments for and against capital punishment, and alternatives to the death sentence.Production of videos associated with this resource were funded in part by the Catholic Communication Campaign of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

My guest on this episode is an intellectual giant, the philosopher and legal scholar Martha Nussbaum. Her work has been kaleidoscopic in scope, covering Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Aristotle, as well as liberalism, feminism, human rights, forgiveness, justice, the arts, the role of emotions and much, much more.  Our conversation is mostly about her new book Citadels of Pride, which tackles the issues of sexual assault and harassment and how to create systems for what she calls forward-looking justice, rather than backward-looking revenge. It is a timely book, covering the controversial issue of Title IX which governs the treatment of assault and harassment claims on college campuses, as well as the strengths and limits of the #MeToo movement. We also talk about the corruption of Division 1 college sports; the problems caused by the legal drinking age; why public shaming is a bad idea (and one that feminists especially should be especially wary of); and how the sin of pride lies at the heart of sexist views of women. We discuss Martha's own experience of being assaulted in 1968 by Ralph Waite, the actor made famous for his role as the father in the The Waltons, her guilt at not naming him earlier, and how much progress has been made in law in the decades since. We also touch on her forthcoming work on animal rights. Martha Nussbaum Martha Nussbaum is a Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago working across the Law School, the Philosophy Department, the Classics Department, the Political Science Department, the Divinity School, as a member of the Committee on Southern Asian Studies, and as a Board Member of the Human Rights Program. She has numerous appointments and honorary degrees around the globe and is renowned for her work in Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy (especially Aristotle), feminist philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of the arts, and animal rights. Most recently Martha was awarded the Holberg Prize which recognizes scholars for their work in the arts, humanities, social sciences, law, and/or theology.  More Nussbaum  Read her new book “Citadels of Pride: Sexual Assault, Accountability, and Reconciliation” and her piece “Why Some Men Are Above the Law” in which she first draws attention to her own personal experience.  Watch her Holberg Lecture “Justice for Animals: Practical Progress through Philosophical Theory” on June 8, 2021.  Read Martha's animal rights pieces, “Legal Protection for Whales” and “The Legal Status of Whales and Dolphins”, both co-authored with her daughter Rachel.  Also mentioned Check out Jake Heggie's opera “Dead Man Walking”, based on Sister Helen's book of the same name  Read more about pride as a vice in Dante's Purgatorio and the story of Emperor Trajan  In 1955, Mamie Till-Mobley told her son Emmett to not “look the white folks in the eye” before he travelled to Mississippi  Martha referenced Ishmael Reed's book “Reckless Eyeballing” Read more about Pauli Murray  Mechelle Vinson; and Cheryl Araujo  Read Dan Harmon's public apology to his coworker Megan Ganz  Martha referenced St. Paul in Romans 12:20 in which he said "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head"  Read the Parable of the Prodigal Son Check out this data sheet on D1 Football Sexual Assault Events  Read Obama's “Dear Colleague” Letter and the changes that Secretary DeVos made  Visit the Friends of Animals website, where Martha's daughter Rachel worked The Dialogues Team Creator: Richard Reeves Research: Ashleigh Maciolek Artwork: George Vaughan Thomas Tech Support: Cameron Hauver-Reeves Music: "Remember" by Bencoolen (thanks for the permission, guys!)

What is commitment? The life of Sister Helen Prejean, leader in the movement to abolish the death penalty, is a story of commitment. This worship service featured poems, songs, and stories about Sister Helen, exploring her personal transformation to a life of commitment. Songs by Jake Hegge from his song cycle "The Deepest Desire: Four Meditations on Love." March 7, 2021

Support For the Life of the World, give to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture:  faith.yale.edu/giveShortly after Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in March 2013, he released an exhortation, very similar to an encyclical, but addressed to a Christian audience. "Evangelii Guadium” or the "Joy of the Gospel,” begins by articulating the most pressing challenges for the contemporary Church. First on his list is the economy of exclusion. What does he mean by that? He writes:Just as the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say “thou shalt not” to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion. Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality. Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless. As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.  (Evangelii Gaudium)Sister Helen Alford reflects on the economic implications of Pope Francis's Fratelli Tutti, including concerns about unrestrained free markets, the importance of allowing human life and dignity to frame our economic policy, what behavioral economics tells us about human relationality, and how we can understand the big picture of politics, economics, faith, and flourishing operating in Catholic social thought. Interview by Ryan McAnnally-Linz.Show NotesWhat is the goal of Fratelli Tutti? (And understanding it in light of 2015's Laudato Si: Care of Our Common Home.)Integral ecology: how we relate to each other in our nature environment (ecology) and human environment (economy)Ecology and economy share a common root: oikos (home)An economy that puts life and human dignity at the center, which also means respect for the environmentThe economic donut principle: the inner ring is social minimum to take care of all people, the outer ring is the environmental ceiling for impact. We need to live within the donut!"Fratelli tutti wants to see the economy as situated within a bigger vision of human development"Economy is like the foundation of a house, it's not built for its own sake, but to support the whole house and the people in it. The economy must serve the common good—for all of us, in an integrated way.The primacy of politics: "We need a political order that's going to give proper direction to the economy.""We see how difficult it is to make a political system function today."The economy is a good tool but a bad master. It must serve, not rule.The problem with unrestrained free marketsUnderstanding the vision of human flourishing implied in the free market economy"The Ultimatum Game": An experiment in behavioral economicsRelational beings in the economy; relationships really count in economic interactionsBeings in relation; understanding the humanity at the core of economicsHow theology, biology, and economics all suggest cooperation and relationally is built into human beings.Long term ideas that impact our concept of work and the human personRarum novarum and solidarity between workers and owners, and solidarity between workers togetherSolidarity as a strategy for affirming dignity among all humanity"The shape of human flourishing and how to reach it"—Charles Taylor on Fratelli Tutti"Let us dream as a single human family.” Pope FrancisWhat is Pope Francis's vision for a full and flourishing life? Human rights, human development and resources, moral and spiritual goodsIncreasing diversity, having dialogue with each other and living together in real encounter, loving each other within diversity

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Pesachim 75, finds the rabbis discussing how to go about executing a person who has transgressed. Sister Helen Prejean joins us to share her experiences as America’s foremost critic the death penalty, and talk about how Catholic and Jewish traditions come together—and how they differ—when it comes to thinking about sanctioned killings. What did Sister Helen feel the first time she looked a death row inmate in the eye? Listen and find out.

In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean was invited to write a letter to a man on death row named Elmo Patrick Sonnier. She told us, "I thought that all I was going to be doing was writing letters. And lo and behold, two years later, I am in that execution chamber." She's now 81, and has been present at the executions of six men. Criminal is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. If you haven’t already, please review us on Apple Podcasts! It’s an important way to help new listeners discover the show: iTunes.com/CriminalShow. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our newsletter, The Accomplice. If you’d like to introduce friends or family members to podcasts, we created a How to Listen guide based on frequently asked questions. Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Sponsors: AMC Acorn TV Try Acorn TV free for 30 days, by going to Acorn.tv and use promo code criminal. Article article is offering our listeners $50 off their first purchase of $100 or more.  to claim, visit article.com/criminal and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. Better Help  Get 10% off your first month with discount code criminal at BetterHelp.com/criminals Progressive  Get your quote online at Progressive.com and see how much you could be saving Simplisafe  Visit SimpliSafe.com/criminal to get a free camera plus SimpliSafe’s holiday savings. Squarespace  Try Squarespace.com/criminal for a free trial and when you’re ready to launch, use the offer code CRIMINAL to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Sun Basket $35 off your order when you go right now to sunbasket.com/criminal and enter promo code criminal at checkout. Ziprecruiter  See for yourself how ZipRecruiter makes hiring faster and easier. Try it now for free at ZipRecruiter.com/criminal.

  Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, questions@townsquaretalk.org or @townsquaretalk. Sister Helen Prejean joins us for the full hour to discuss her new book, “River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey,” and how her life as a nun led to becoming a spiritual advisor for people on death row and fighting the death penalty. After a 16 year hiatus, the Trump administration... Read More

Today I am joined by Eva Lawitts. I first knew Eva as the bassist for Sister Helen, a long running DIY band in Brooklyn, but then continued to run into her playing session gigs for a whole host of acts like Vagabon and Princess Nokia. After the dissolution of Sister Helen, Eva formed Stimmerman as an outlet for her songwriting and has since released an EP, a full length, and most recently a score for the video game Get-A-Grip Chip, which is available on Steam now. We spoke about her compositional process, what she’s learned as a session player and engineer, and much more. https://stimmerman.bandcamp.com/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1269590/GetAGrip_Chip/ https://www.instagram.com/shrederellaregretowittz/

In This Episode:   Whoa. Warning: The excitement John is going to give you right off the bat is going to alarm you. It’s for a legitimate reason. We have a new referral program! Get 5 friends to check us out: get a free personalized flash jingle. For you, for grandma, to drop on ‘em as you enter a Zoom call. Get 10: get a flash jingle and PHTO merch. Get 20?! You will get a full out 45-60 second jingle pitch. Click the link —> PHTO Refer-o-matic  Add the names. Share us. It’s that simple. Both our lives will change forever. We love you.  Okay, stay with me now. In our main segment, Tim Sebastian from 10glo.com joins us. Tim is the CGO (Chief Growth Officer) at 10glo.com, a new open forum for theatre artists to promote and share their talent in a ‘white label’ YouTube type of format. Their goal is to give actors and performing artists a platform where they bypass the audition room and get their work seen directly by industry professionals. Sign up —> https://10glo.com/  using the code “JINGLEBROS” To get some groovy free stickers as well!  We chat with Tim about the challenges of opening a media company during the pandemic. We did the same thing, you see. BAZAAAAAM! Tim’s interview is great for other performing artists who have had to adjust to the transition of working from home. For many of us it has felt strange and unnatural, but we are trying to keep it in the context of how it will improve our work when live performance returns. PHTO show at Madison Square Garden, anyone?! (I go on a long tangent mid-interview and it’s like WTF but just try to stay with me.) Lastly but not least-ly? Huh? We head back down to Dallas, Texas to promote a Christmas show for Uptown Players. This is a theatre in Dallas that John has worked for that is entering their 19th season. REGIONAL THEATERS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, TOO, PEOPLE! We are writing this week for Paul J. Williams and “Sister Helen Holy’s Holiday Streaming Spectacular!” I can’t say enough great things about this performer, but I will say this: he uses his faith, his experience in the church, his love of and presence in the LGBTQIA community and his humor to bring joy, laughter and unity to the world at large. We think the world of this man’s talent.   This Week’s Business: Uptown Players and Sister Helen Holy’s Holiday Streaming Spectacular https://www.uptownplayers.org/  (Keep your eyes peeled for their promo video featuring our jingle!) Virtual/Streaming Production: December 4 - December 20, 2020 Tickets available at: https://www.uptownplayers.org/more_info.php?show_id=8 Uptown Players 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas Texas, 75219 (214) 219-2718

Born and raised in New York; Helen attended undergraduate school at Brandeis University in Waltham Massachusetts1986; Masters in secondary education from Adelphi University 1992. She worked as a paralegal in New York City for 12 years prior to moving to Florida in 1997. She has been teacher for the Sarasota County schools since 1997. Her biggest struggle since childhood has been the need to be perfect all the time. Definitely a hard habit to break but it is something that pushes her and drives her to work hard. She’s currently working on a second masters from Stetson University College of Law and studying healthcare compliance. Additionally she is applying to law school for fall semester 2021. Started a network marketing business About two years ago she started her own network marketing business with a luxury skincare and make up line that she is very passionate about. She’s always tried to be a good citizen whether it’s helping a neighbor or a friend or even a stranger and she hopes to become an advocate for people who don’t Know how to speak up for themselves, She’d like to practice law in healthcare, elder law, compliance sort of direction.

Today the world is mourning the loss of a woman who gave expression to the ambitions and frustrations of a generation of women and girls through the anthemic 'I Am Woman'.

Sister Helen Prejean has dedicated her life to opposing the death penalty after she witnessed an execution in her home state of Louisiana. Her efforts have sparked a national dialogue on capital punishment and she has helped shape the Catholic Church’s position on the topic. In 2011, she donated her personal archives to the university to help the DePaul community continue to learn from her work. On this episode of DePaul Download, Sister Helen talks about life’s work and what keeps her going.

Sister Helen Prejean is no stranger to the prison system and has worked tirelessly to fight the death penalty in the US, most notably with her book "Dead Man Walking". That book ignited a national debate on capital punishment and spawned an Academy Award winning movie, a play, and an opera.Sister Helen continues to fight many battles for social justice. Her attention is now focused on fighting the Federal Bureau of Prisons, urging them to improve living conditions for inmates during this Pandemic.

Season ten wraps up with a special episode featuring Sister Helen Holy in conversation at Wild Goose Festival. Sister Helen is a satirical character played by actor Paul J. Williams. Our conversation took place in character at Wild Goose Festival.

Sister Helen Prejean didn't know what she was getting into when she became pen pals with an inmate on death row, a story told in the film, Dead Man Walking. Now, she's a fierce advocate against the death penalty. Sister Helen and Kate talk about finding purpose as a discovery that often begins with gentle nudges and tiny yeses.

‘No religious leaders protested the killing that night. But I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. And what I saw set my soul on fire.’

Sister Helen Prejean is considered one of the nation's foremost leaders in efforts to abolish the death penalty. In her new book, “River of Fire,” she shares the story of her growth as a spiritual leader, speaks out about the challenges of the Catholic Church, and shows that joy and religion are not mutually exclusive.

Friend of the show Sister Helen Prejean chats with Father Dave about her new memoir, “River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey.” Original Air 8-19-19

Sister Helen Cohan - Understanding Children's Grief

The Atlanta Opera's production of "Dead Man Walking" tells the story of Sister Helen Prejean and her relationship with death row inmate Joseph de Rocher. It's based on Prejean's real-life book chronicling her prison ministry. Prejean wrote about her experiences as a spriritual counselor to death row inmates Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie in the book, which the production amalgamates into de Rocher's character. GPB's Sarah Zaslaw spoke to Tomer Zvulun , the Atlanta Opera's artistic director, and Georgia native Jamie Barton , who plays Sister Helen in the production. They discussed ideas of justice, forgiveness and how the opera wrestles with the dignity of victims and perpetrators of violence.

  Sister Helen Prejean has been the face of the anti-death penalty movement for decades. A member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, Sister Helen has been accompanying inmates on death row and lobbying against capital punishment in the United States (and in the church) for decades. She blew up on the national scene for her book Dead Man Walking, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film, and she was crucial to the Vatican’s eventual decision to ban the death penalty in the Catechism. We talk to Sister Helen about how she became an anti-death penalty activist and how the fight against the death penalty has changed throughout the years—and how “sneaky Jesus” changed her life forever. In Signs of the Times, we talk about two Jesuit provinces releasing the names of more than 150 priests and other ministry leaders who were found to have “credible allegations” of sexual abuse. We break down a few “nun” stories and ask an important question before we go on break for Christmas: How can parishes welcome newcomers at Christmas Masses? On that note, we just wanted to thank everyone in the Jesuitical community: Whether you are a Patreon supporter, Facebook group poster (or lurker), or a casual listener—the whole Jesuitical team wishes you the peace and joy of the baby Jesus this Christmas. We’ll see you in the New Year. Links from the show: Two Jesuit provinces release 153 names of accused abusers Dear @POTUS: The Nun Who Tweets a Daily Prayer to President Trump 2 Nuns Accused Of Embezzling $500,000 From Catholic School Pope Francis will visit Abu Dhabi ‘Of Gods and Men’ monks beatified Detroit’s Back to Christmas Campaign     What’s on tap? Bob Dylan’s Double Barrel Rye Whiskey, courtesy of our colleague Ed Schmidt, S.J.

Sister Helen Prejean has been an anti-death-penalty advocate since 1981, when she first became the pen pal of a death-row inmate in Louisiana's Angola State Prison. Since then she's witnessed five executions in Louisiana, and has written two books on the subject, including the book that was made into the 1996 film Dead Man Walking. The role of physicians in state-sanctioned death isn't much talked about, and being a prison physician isn't something many doctors aspire to; nevertheless, we saw an opportunity to talk with Sister Helen about why medical students should think more about the death penalty.

Sister Helen Prejean has been an anti-death-penalty advocate since 1981, when she first became the pen pal of a death-row inmate in Louisiana's Angola State Prison. Since then she's witnessed five executions in Louisiana, and has written two books on the subject, including the book that was made into the 1996 film Dead Man Walking. The role of physicians in state-sanctioned death isn't much talked about, and being a prison physician isn't something many doctors aspire to; nevertheless, we saw an opportunity to talk with Sister Helen about why medical students should think more about the death penalty.

An Exclusive Interview with Sister Helen Prejean is the Topic of our Booth One Podcast this Week. Sister Helen is in town in support of the Quality of Mercy Project, a three-month public programming initiative examining the complex issues that arise from the production of Dead Man Walking: forgiveness, compassion, the death penalty, mass incarceration, racial inequality, and social injustice. We are pleased she agreed to spend some time talking to us in our studio. Read more here. Sister Helen Prejean (born in Baton Rouge, LA) is a Roman Catholic nun, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph and a leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. Her efforts began in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1982 a friend asked her to correspond with convicted murderer Elmo Patrick Sonnier, located in the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Sonnier was sentenced to death by electrocution. She visited Sonnier in prison and agreed to be his spiritual adviser in the months leading up to his execution. The experience gave Prejean greater insight into the process involved in executions, and she began speaking out against capital punishment. Prejean has since ministered to many other inmates on death row and witnessed several more executions. Her subsequent book Dead Man Walking, a biographical account of her relationship with Sonnier and other inmates on death row, served as the basis for a feature film, an opera, and a play. In the film, Sister Helen was portrayed by Susan Sarandon, who won an Academy Award for her performance. Also starring Sean Penn. Although Prejean herself was uncredited, she made a minor cameo as a woman in a candlelit vigil scene outside Louisiana State Penitentiary. Prejean's second book, The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions read more here was published in December 2004. In it, she tells the story of two men whom she accompanied to their executions. She believes that both men were innocent. The book also examines the recent history of death penalty decisions. Here is an important one: Glossip v Gross. In this episode we learn more about Sister Helen's extraordinary efforts in this cause and a few things about the remarkable person who is Sister Helen as well. Joining us in the studio is Leslie Brown, the Executive Director of the Piven Theatre Workshop right here in Evanston, IL, where a production of Dead Man Walking is being presented from April 16 - May 15, 2016. We hope you find our interview informative, thought-provoking and enjoyable. Sister Helen is truly a force of nature! The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty. -The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1 For more information on the Quality of Mercy Project and the Piven Theatre's production of Dead Man Walking, go to Piven Theatre Workshop at http://www.piventheatre.org. You can reach Sister Helen through Facebook at Sister Helen Prejean or on her web site at http://www.sisterhelen.org. See Steve Earle performing Ellis Unit One on YouTube here.

Why should we care about Death Row Because it says more about us a culture than most of us think. Rose Vines coordinates all social media and technology for The Ministry Against the Death Penalty. She works side by side with Sister Helen Prejean to abolish capital punishment in the United States. In this episode of Death The Podcast, Rose reflects with Arian about the experience of visiting Death Row, the experience of forming a relationship with an inmate she is convinced is innocent and the experience of driving away from him. In helping us understand her passion to do this work, Rose articulates the message of her mentor Sister Helen, "Each of us is worth more than our own worst act." To find out more about The Ministry Against the Death Penalty, go to Sisterhelen.org To find out more about Manuel Ortiz, go to Manuelortizisinnocent.org

The third and final clip of our 4-day outreach to Switzerland covers a 72-hour period, which shows all of our filmed one-on-one conversations and more! This is a faithful outreach by James and Patrick with Sister Tantri from Singapore and Sister Helen and Brother Enrique from Spain with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ from the King James Bible, the Authorized 1611. (Any mispronounced or missed words are not intentional). James takes you through various Scriptures to give you a clear understanding of the word of God.

This week on Tell Somebody, the speech that Dead Man Walking author Sister Helen Prejean gave at Unity on the Plaza in Kansas City on the evening of October 30, 2015. Sister Helen Prejean was in Kansas City on October 30 2015 for speaking engagements thanks to Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and The Center for Global Studies and Social Justice at Avila University. On the previous edition of the show, I played the interview I recorded with Sister Helen after a talk she gave at Avila University. On this show, you'll hear the speech she gave that evening. ​​Click on the pod icon above, or the .mp3 filename below to listen to the show, or right-click and choose "save target as" or "save link as" to save a copy of the audio file to your computer. You can also subscribe to the podcast, for free, at the iTunes store or other podcast directory. If you have any comments or questions on the show, or problems accessing the files, send an email to mail@tellsomebody.us. Follow Tell Somebody  on Twitter: @tellsomebodynow  “Like” the Tell Somebody page on facebook:  www.facebook.com/TellSomebodyNow

This week on Tell Somebody. Dead Man Walking author Sister Helen Prejean, and Staci Pratt, state coordinator for Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (MADP). If someone viciously and brutally murdered a loved one of yours – a child, a spouse, a parent - could you get past rage and grief to forgive? Or even just to accept? I'm not sure I could. Unless we've experienced such a loss, most of can't ever know for sure. I hope I never have to find out. But as citizens, don't we all have an obligation to consider the issue? Society has to deal with such, otherwise we leave it to surviving loved ones to forgive or not. To act in retribution or not. Sister Helen Prejean returned to Kansas City on October 30 2015 thanks to MADP and The Center for Global Studies and Social Justice at Avila University. In between her speaking engagements at Avila University and Unity on the Plaza in Kansas City, I recorded interviews with Sister Helen and with Staci Pratt, State Coordinator for MADP. ​​Click on the pod icon above, or the .mp3 filename below to listen to the show, or right-click and choose "save target as" or "save link as" to save a copy of the audio file to your computer. You can also subscribe to the podcast, for free, at the iTunes store or other podcast directory. If you have any comments or questions on the show, or problems accessing the files, send an email to mail@tellsomebody.us. Follow Tell Somebody  on Twitter: @TellSomebodynow “Like” the Tell Somebody page on facebook:  www.facebook.com/TellSomebodyNow

Sister Helen and Dead Man Walking have been the subject of numerous media stories and reviews in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Holland, England, Scotland, France and Australia. She has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, the St. Anthony Messenger, the Ligourian, the Chicago Tribune, the Atlanta Constitution, the Times Picayune, the San Francisco Chronicle, the New Orleans Magazine, the Tablet, Sisters Today and numerous other print media. Sr. Helen visited with St. Ignatius students in the Fall of 2004.